Issue - meetings
Event Day Parking and Vehicle Removals
Meeting: 22/04/2014 - Executive (Item 4)
4 Event Day parking and vehicle removals 
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This report responds to concerns that the Council’s practice in respect of the removal to the car pound of illegally parked vehicles results in the unnecessary removal of a number of vehicles for which a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) would be sufficient and appropriate. It proposes a pilot in which removals would not take place for less serious parking offences whilst impacts on compliance are monitored to inform a longer term policy on removals
Concerns have also been expressed that the Council’s existing enforcement of the controls within the Wembley Stadium Protective Parking Zone (Event Day Zone) starts too early in the day which unnecessarily inconveniences residents. A trial of later start times to enforcement is proposed.
Decision:
(i) that the analysis of vehicle removals in Brent in comparison to other London Boroughs set out in paragraphs 3.5 to 3.10 and the financial implications in paragraphs 4.1 to 4.8 of the report from the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods be noted;
(ii) that agreement be given to a pilot of an alternative policy regarding the removal of illegally parked vehicles for a period from 1 May 2014 up to the end of October 2014 as described in paragraphs 3.12 to 3 16 and Appendix A to the report;
(iii) that authority be delegated to the Operational Director, Environment and Protection to amend the policy and arrangements being piloted through the life of the pilot in consultation with the Lead Member for Highways and Transportation;
(iv) that officers bring a report on the conclusions reached from the pilot regarding the removals of illegally parked vehicles to a future Highways Committee and Executive meeting;
(v) that agreement be given to a trial of the revised arrangements for the start and finish times of Event Day enforcement described in paragraph 3.20 for the remainder of 2014 and that a further report be brought to the Highways Committee and Executive on the conclusions of the trial before the first Stadium Event of 2015.
Minutes:
Councillor J Moher (Lead Member, Highways and Transportation) introduced the report which responded to concerns over the council’s practise in respect of the removal to the car pound of illegally parked vehicles one Wembley Stadium Event Days. It was felt that this resulted in the unnecessary removal of a number of vehicles when a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) would suffice. The report from the Strategic Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods proposed a pilot in which removals would not take place for less serious parking offences whilst impacts on compliance were monitored to inform a longer term policy on removals. Additionally, the report referred to concerns that the council’s existing enforcement of the controls within the Wembley Stadium Protective Parking Zone (Event Day Zone) started too early in the day which unnecessarily inconvenienced residents.
Members welcomed the proposals to review the current practices and the opportunity to look after residents’ interests. Councillor Butt (Leader of the Council) cautioned that a robust approach would be taken on any abuse.
RESOLVED:
(i) that the analysis of vehicle removals in Brent in comparison to other London Boroughs set out in paragraphs 3.5 to 3.10 and the financial implications in paragraphs 4.1 to 4.8 of the report from the Strategic Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods be noted;
(ii) that agreement be given to a pilot of an alternative policy regarding the removal of illegally parked vehicles for a period from 1 May 2014 up to the end of October 2014 as described in paragraphs 3.12 to 3 16 and Appendix A to the report;
(iii) that authority be delegated to the Operational Director, Environment and Protection to amend the policy and arrangements being piloted through the life of the pilot in consultation with the Lead Member for Highways and Transportation;
(iv) that officers bring a report on the conclusions reached from the pilot regarding the removals of illegally parked vehicles to a future Highways Committee and Executive meeting;
(v) that agreement be given to a trial of the revised arrangements for the start and finish times of Event Day enforcement described in paragraph 3.20 for the remainder of 2014 and that a further report be brought to the Highways Committee and Executive on the conclusions of the trial before the first Stadium Event of 2015.