Agenda item

Parking Services Annual Review 2018/19.

Minutes:

Claire Onslow, Business Unit Leader for Parking Services introduced the annual review of Parking Services.  She advised that the report provides the Committee with an overview of Parking Services’ activity in 2018/19, including information about the enforcement contract the Council operate on behalf of West Sussex County Council.  The Committee were informed that the Parking Services Team manage the District's public car parks, the enforcement of on and off street parking, administers West Sussex County Council's Controlled Parking Zone in East Grinstead and the Council's concessionary taxi voucher scheme.  She highlighted that the rollout of cashless parking had modernised the service for users and had been well received.  In response to a Member's question she advised that the contract with West Sussex County Council was due for consideration next year but the County Council were currently reviewing the Civil Parking Enforcement agreements in all Borough and District Councils.  

 

Due to the unavoidable absence of Councillor Stephen Hillier, Cabinet Member for Economic Growth, it was agreed that Councillor Gary Marsh would answer questions relating to the Parking Strategy.

 

A Member queried how Parking Services prioritised parking enforcement and enforcement of heavy goods vehicles (HGVs).  The Officer noted that the contract with West Sussex County Council stipulated that enforcement should be 70% for on-street and 30% for off-street parking.  The Committee were advised that the District covers a large area but the controlled parking zone and known hot spots are prioritised.  The hot spots have been identified from historic data and local knowledge, and the parking enforcement team can monitor any other areas that are raised as sites of concern.   The Officer stated that they also undertake reactive enforcement after receiving information from Members and the public, and the priority is to keep traffic moving across the District.

 

In response to a Member's question Councillor Marsh stated that the decision had been made, where possible, to pursue unpaid tickets issued to foreign drivers.  He noted that the enforcement officers have visited hot spots like schools and these visits have been effective.  The Business Unit Leader for Parking Services confirmed that the pursuit of debt collection from foreign drivers has a zero cost to the Council if there is no successful outcome.  If a debt is recovered the cost to the Council is 20% of the recovered funds. 

 

Members queried the spare capacity of the car parks, key performance indicators, the retention of parking enforcement staff, the use of car parks by season ticket holders and controlled parking zones.  The Officer confirmed that there are three car parks in Haywards Heath for use by season ticket holders only, and Franklynn Road car park is for use by both season ticket holders and pay and display users.  The Committee were informed that there was no high turnover of staff, staff moved on due to relocation or retirement but it has proved difficult to employ the final enforcement officer.  She advised that the Parking Strategy Working Group would look at the transaction data and the use of car parks by season ticket holders to ensure the Council is getting best value for money. The Committee were advised that the Council could not stipulate when season ticket holders use the car parks as they are issued for a set period. The Officer noted that controlled parking zones were the responsibility of the County Council and they must ensure that the roads are used appropriately whilst balancing on and off street parking provision.

 

Judy Holmes, Assistant Chief Executive noted that the provision of pay and display and season ticket spaces was a balancing act.  The Council needed to support economic growth, provide parking for workers and those who use the car parks in connection with leisure activities.  This approach has attracted large businesses to the towns and their employees boost the local economy.  The Assistant Chief Executive advised that the challenge for the Working Group is to balance the utilisation of the car parks for all the different user groups.  The Committee were advised that a representative from West Sussex County Council is also a member of the Working Group which will report back to the Committee and full Council would agree the strategy.  She confirmed that the first meeting of the Working Group is Thursday 31 October 2019.

 

A Member noted that the result of the road space audit by West Sussex County Council had not been published.  He advised that a reduction in the provision for season ticket holders would cause congestion on residential roads.  The Assistant Chief Executive confirmed that the audit results would be considered by the Working Group.

 

The Chairman thanked the Officer for the report and highlighted that Mid Sussex are the only Council to offer the discretionary service of taxi vouchers.

 

As there were no questions the Chairman took Members to the recommendation which was agreed unanimously.

           

RESOLVED

 

The Committee noted the contents of the report.

Supporting documents: