Agenda, decisions and minutes
Venue: Boardrooms 5&6 - Brent Civic Centre, Engineers Way, Wembley, HA9 0FJ. View directions
Contact: Tom Welsh, Governance Officer Email: tom.welsh@brent.gov.uk; 020 8937 6607
Note: *PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS MEETING WILL NOW TAKE PLACE IN BOARD ROOMS 5&6 AT BRENT CIVIC CENTRE
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Apologies for Absence and Clarification of Substitutes (if necessary) For the Committee to note any apologies for absence from Members and clarification of any substitute Members at the meeting if need be. Minutes: Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Southwood (Chair), with Councillor Miller present as substitute. Councillor Tatler, as Vice-Chair of the Committee, acted as Chair of the meeting. |
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Declarations of Interest In accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct, Members are invited to declare at this stage of the meeting, any relevant personal, prejudicial interests or discloseable pecuniary interests in any matter to be considered at this meeting. Decision: There were no disclosable pecuniary, personal or prejudicial interests declared by Members. Minutes: There were no interests declared by Members. |
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Minutes of the Previous Meeting PDF 89 KB To approve the attached minutes of the previous meeting on 27 March 2017 as a correct record. Minutes: It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the previous meeting held on 27 March 2017 be approved as an accurate record of the meeting. |
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Matters Arising (If Any) To address any matters arising from the minutes (if any). Minutes: There were no matters arising from the minutes. |
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Deputations (If Any) To hear any deputations received from members of the public in accordance with Standing Order 69. Minutes: There were no deputations to be heard by the Committee. |
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Petitions (If Any) Minutes: There were no petitions to be discussed by the Committee. |
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Brent Council Parking Service Annual Report 2016-2017 PDF 142 KB The purpose of the Annual Report is to explain the aims and objectives of the Council’s Parking service and the key achievements of the last financial year. The Report includes a statistical analysis setting out information on the number of parking and traffic related Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) issued for the period 2016/2017, the revenue and expenditure recorded in our Parking Account, and how the surplus on this account has been spent or allocated. Additional documents: Decision: RESOLVED that:
(i) The publication of the Council’s Parking Annual Report 2016/17, subject to amendment in respect of the 2016/2017 Environment and Traffic Adjudicators (ETA) data, be approved for publication prior to October 2017; and
(ii) It be noted that the additional information on the outcome of appeals to the independent appeals service, ETA, in 2016/17, would be added to the published Annual Report in September 2017. Minutes: Gavin Moore (the Council’s Head of Parking and Lighting) introduced the report which set out the key achievements of the Council’s Parking Service over the last financial year, alongside key aims and objectives for the coming year. Mr Moore explained that whilst the publication of the annual report fulfilled a statutory duty in accordance with the Traffic Management Act 2004, the Council’s Parking Team viewed the Annual Report as an important opportunity to be open and accountable to residents. He had therefore brought the draft report to Members for comment and endorsement in advance of the statutory publication date.
Mr Moore outlined a summary of the key achievements over the past year, as detailed within the report, which included: a gradual increase in Parking Charge Notices (PCNs) issued by Civil Enforcement Officers (CEOs); an increase in PCNs issued by Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras for both parking contraventions and bus lane contraventions; enhanced productivity from CEOs; a lower number of complaints from residents about the service; a continued strong performance on debt recovery; a further increase in cashless on-street parking payments; the introduction of the borough’s first business specific CPZ and accompanying ‘business visitor’ permit; and a substantial increase in the number of car parks in Brent which had secured the ‘Park Mark’ safer parking accreditation award. Mr Moore stated that it was hoped that the enforcement progress would assist in driving up traffic and driving standards across the borough.
Members welcomed the report from officers and it was felt that the progress made had been very positive. Questions arose on what could identifiably be improved from the Parking Service in the coming year. Gavin Moore stated that the quality of enforcement, and the adjudication of representations, could continue to be improved to try to avoid PCNs being issued in error. He noted that, staffing wise, the parking team were looking to recruit to a specific post to drive up quality within the service in order to address this, and another post to deal specifically with presenting Brent’s case at independent appeal hearings. The Committee also heard that there was additional work planned to remove both older, poorly functioning pay and display machines, and those machines which were not in regular use. It was additionally explained that a further ten cameras for capturing moving traffic contraventions were planned to be introduced in 2017.
Members asked for detail on the approach that the Parking Team had been taking around schools, as it was felt that busy school drop-off times could often lead to illegal parking or anti-social behaviour. Gavin Moore explained that enforcement around schools was difficult at peak times but that the Council had been taking steps to address this. He explained that the difficulties caused by the Deregulation Act 2015 which had restricted CCTV use on locations that parking PCNs could be issued. This was a particular problem when CEOs were deployed, as drivers who were parked illegally were more likely to drive away before being issued with a ... view the full minutes text for item 7. |
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Any Other Urgent Business Any decisions taken urgently under this heading must comply with the provisions outlined in Standing Order 16 (a) of the Council’s Constitution. Minutes: There was no other urgent business to be transacted. |
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Date of Next Meeting The next meeting of the Highways Committee is scheduled for 16 October 2017. Minutes: It was noted that the next meeting of the Highways Committee was scheduled for 16 October 2017. |