Issue - meetings

This report summarises the representations received from the statutory consultation process in relation to proposed changes for parking short stay on-street tariffs, permits, incentives for cashless parking and makes recommendations in relation to the issues arising.

(i)         that the petition and representations received in relation to the notices of proposals dated 9 May 2013 and summarised in section 4 and Appendix A of the report from the Strategic Director of Environment and Neighbourhood be noted;

(ii)        that approval be given to the retention of longstanding day-long visitor parking duration, from the four hours agreed by the Executive on 12 September 2012, as described in paragraph 4.3 of the report;

(iii)       that approval be given a new visitor parking price tariff as described in paragraph 4.3.5 of the Directors;

(iv)       that approval be given to the extension of the validity of a Wembley Stadium Protective Parking Scheme residents’ permit and Brentfield Road zone T from the two years agreed by the Executive on 12 September 2012 to three years, as described in section 4.4 and 4.7.2 of the report;

(v)        that approval be given to the extension of the maximum duration of virtual visitor passes in the Wembley Stadium Protective Parking Scheme from the four hours agreed by the Executive on 12 September 2012 to one calendar day, as described in section 4.5 of this report;

(vi)       that approval be given to the extension of the maximum duration of virtual visitor passes in the Brentfield Road zone T from the four hours agreed by the Executive on 12 September 2012 to 24 hours, as described in section 4.7.2 of the report;

(vii)      that approval be given to the tariff for virtual visitor passes in the Wembley Stadium Protective Parking Scheme and Brentfield Road zone T from the £1 agreed by the Executive on 12 September 2012 to 50p and to continue the longstanding limit of two visitor simultaneous parking passes per household, as described in section 4.5 and 4.7 of the report;

(viii)     that approval be given to the arrangements for exchanging unused scratch-cards and for easing enforcement in the period immediately after 31 October 2013, when they will become invalid as set out in section 5 of this report, including granting delegated authority to the Strategic Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods as regards the detailed arrangements for timing and implementation;

(ix)       that authority be delegated to the Strategic Director of Environment and Neighbourhood Services to establish and implement temporary mitigation measures for carers of people that would be eligible for the new cared-for persons’ permit, until such time as that permit is formally launched as set out in paragraph 5.13 of the report;

(x)        that the remaining parking tariffs and pricing and product changes agreed by the Executive on 19 September 2012 be implemented where they are unaffected by the representations made and considered within the report.

The report from the Strategic Director, Environment and Neighbourhoods summarised the representations received from the statutory consultation process in relation to proposed changes to parking short stay on-street tariffs, permits and incentives for cashless parking. The report recommended several changes in response to the issues and concerns that had been raised, including new arrangements to allow unused daily visitor scratch-cards to be exchanged for electronic visitor passes and transitional enforcement arrangements in respect of scratch-cards that were mistakenly used after they ceased to be valid on 31 October 2013. The report made no recommendation in respect of the earlier agreement to reduce on-street parking tariffs, move to a linear charging model and introduce a very low charge for parkers staying less than 15 minutes, in consequence of the absence of any adverse comments about this from the consultation process. The report also outlined issues remaining that arose from the changes agreed by the Executive on 19 September 2012, such as the new unified business permit, suspensions and dispensations and sought delegated powers in respect of a few remaining matters.

Councillor J Moher (Lead Member, Highways and Transportation), in introducing the report, was pleased to draw attention to the evidence that the council listened to the concerns expressed by residents over parking charges referred to in the report. No adverse comments had been submitted on the proposals to reduce parking charges and the minimal charging had been well received. Many comments had been received on the four hour visitor parking permit and it was hoped that the new day long arrangements visitor parking duration would reduce misuse as well as satisfy residents.

Councillor Moher made reference to the comparisons with neighbouring boroughs with which the council compared favourably. He empathised with residents who found the change from scratch cards to on-line payments challenging but people were getting used to it, many boroughs were going the same way and the option to pay by phone was being preserved. The scratch card system would run in parallel with on-line and a scheme offering incentives to exchange previously issued cards was being introduced in late summer.

Ward councillors present at the meeting, while welcoming the reduction in parking charges, expressed concern over the operation of the telephone parking service and what was reported to be a high number of complaints about delays and poor response rates. Residents had also complained of difficulties in making advance arrangements for couriers and contractors in the absence of registration number information and for those without computers.

Michael Read (Assistant Director, Environment and Protection) accepted that the telephone service had been poor. This was attributed to the process of changing contractors. The new provider should bring increased capacity. On prior booking, Michael Read clarified that car registrations were not required in advance. The on-line service should be working well and, with the use of a smart phone, the process should take seconds.

The Chair (Councillor Butt, Leader of the Council) contributed that people could, if they preferred, contact  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6