Issue - meetings
Response to petition against the proposed increase in residents parking charges
Meeting: 27/07/2011 - Highways Committee (Item 7)
7 Response to petition against the proposed increase in residents parking charges PDF 76 KB
This report advises the Committee of a petition received and signed by residents from across the Borough, opposing proposals to introduce a vehicle emission-based scheme of charges, with a revised range of charges, for residents parking permits. The report outlines the arrangements that were made for considering representations to the proposals, confirms that the petition was properly considered before a decision was made and provides details of the decision made.
Additional documents:
Decision:
(i) that the contents of the petition and the issues raised be noted;
(ii) that the response of officers, to the petition, as set out in the report be noted;
(iii) that the main petitioner should be advised of the Committees’ consideration of this matter.
Minutes:
The petition received from Brent Liberal Democratic Group stated as follows;
“As a local resident I oppose the plans by the Labour Executive at Brent Council to increase residents Parking Permit charges by an excessive amount. CPZ’s exist to protect local residents and NOT make money out of us”.
The petition was presented by Councillor Lorber (Group Leader) who stated that that the Executive took a decision to introduce the changes subject to consultation and delegated the final decision to officers. The decision should have been called in for scrutiny and whilst being scrutinised, the decision could not be implemented. He continued that controlled parking schemes (CPZ) were introduced as a self funding schemes aimed at protecting local residents from unauthorised parking in their areas. However, it had now become money making schemes as the Council sought to increase the charges. Councillor Lorber concluded that the substantial increase in charges was not supported by local residents as it undermined democratic process.
The report from the Head of Transportation advised the Committee of a petition from residents from across the Borough which opposed proposals to introduce a vehicle emission-based scheme of charges. The report outlined the arrangements that were made for considering representations to the proposals and confirmed that the petition was properly considered before a decision was made. Tim Jackson, Head of Highways, informed the Committee that after due consideration of all representations received, the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods implemented the decision of the Executive. He added that the director of Legal and Procurement did not consider the decision to be ultra vires.
In bringing the matter to a close, Councillor Powney, Vice-Chair pointed out that the decision which was made by the Executive in August 2010 was not called in for scrutiny.
RESOLVED:-
(i) that the contents of the petition and the issues raised be noted;
(ii) that the response of officers, to the petition, as set out in the report be noted;
(iii) that the main petitioner should be advised of the Committees’ consideration of this matter.