Issue - meetings

Report from the Head of Transportation.

This report informs the Committee of the progress on the Controlled Parking Zones (CPZs) implementation programme in Brent, since progress was last reported in July 2009.

Committee members had before them a report from the Head of Transportation on the progress of the Controlled Parking Zones (CPZs) implementation programme in Brent. The Committee agreed first to discuss the issue of Zone GA, as this was the subject of a petition as set out under agenda item 6 above.

(i)            Controlled Parking Zone GA

The Committee heard from Chris Elsdale, a resident of Astley Avenue. She informed the Committee that the residents of Astley Avenue and Anson Road were against having the zone in operation between 10.00 am and 3.00 pm, as this would involve significant sacrifices for them. Chris Elsdale felt that this was a contentious issue, on which she recommended that the Committee defer its decision.

Edward Lazarus, a resident of Anson Road, and representing the petitioners, spoke in favour of having the zone in operation between 10.00 am and 3.00 pm, Monday to Friday. He had surveyed the use of pay and display parking facilities in the area, and concluded that the level of use was very low. He added that any obstruction could be dealt with by using the Road Traffic Acts. In general, his view was that residents were in favour of the operation period 10.00 am to 3.00 pm, as a longer period was not necessary.

Also speaking on behalf of the petitioners, Judy Langley informed the Committee that most of the residents she had contacted in the zone could not understand why the 10.00 am to 3.00 pm scheme, properly agreed following consultation, had not already been implemented and she called on the Committee to agree immediate implementation.

Tim Jackson (Head of Transportation) drew the meeting’s attention to the fact that the Committee had already agreed to reduce the operating time of the parking zone to 10.00 am to 3.00 pm, Monday to Friday. There had been consultation of residents, followed by petitions both for and against the new operating times. Tim Jackson’s view was that there were two ways forward – one was to take the view that the situation was in flux, with no overall consensus, and that the issue should be deferred, and the alternative was to agree that the original consultation, which had been undertaken in a controlled manner and consistent with the Council’s standard approach, represented the overall view. He favoured the latter, and recommended that the Committee adopt this approach.

Asked why the residents wanted the hours of operation reduced, Edward Lazarus informed the Committee that extended hours of parking restrictions were a nuisance, particularly in relation to residents hosting visitors.

Answering a question about the purpose of the statutory consultation, Tim Jackson informed the meeting that this was to comply with statute by advertising the Council’s proposals in the local press and capturing the responses of the emergency services and interested residents.

Councillor Van Colle acknowledged that whatever the Committee decided would upset someone. He emphasised that there was a system in place which involved taking account of the results consultation. The  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7