Issue - meetings

This Report informs the Committee of a petition regarding parking enforcement vehicle deployed nearby to Al-Zahra and Al-Sadiq Islamic schools.

(i)         Noted the contents of the petition and the issues raised;

(ii)        Noted and endorsed the course of action taken by officers.

David Thrale, Head of Service (Safer Streets) introduced the report that responded to the petition regarding parking enforcement deployed near to Al-Sadiq and Al-Zahra school in Chevening Road.  In providing the background, he stated that enforcement around the school was increased in response to persistent complaints about non-compliance with parking controls.  As a result of the concerns expressed in the petition, a meeting was held with the school to determine the practicable and useful way to address the problem.

Al-Sadiq and Al-Zahra schools (The Foundation)indicated a willingness to consider developing a travel plan for the schools which would effectively reduce the likelihood of pupil injury and reduce the environmental impact of school travel.  The school-led initiative would be fully supported by the Council through the School Travel Officer with a future meeting to be convened to explore the plans in greater detail. He added that the development of a travel plan would provide a useful vehicle with which to improve the situation whilst recognising the Council’s obligations and policies.

The Chair expressed concerns on behalf of the Committee about the speaker’s allegation of racial discrimination and pointed out that the matter related to parking enforcement around the school which was a common problem in areas near to schools.  He added that under those circumstances where parking was a problem, it was reasonable to expect some form of enforcement.  The views expressed by the Chair were shared by Councillor Beswick.  Councillor Powney added that officers should ensure that the Council’s equality duty was adhered to in assisting to develop the school-led travel plan.  He also enquired as to when the Committee would receive a further report on the measures.  In response, David Thrale stated that the matter would be reported to the Committee around September or October 2012.

RESOLVED:

(i)         that the contents of the petition and the issues raised be noted;

(ii)       that the course of action taken by officers to support the school in its initiative to develop a travel plan be endorsed;

(iii)      that a further report on the production of a school travel plan incorporating the Council’s equality duty be submitted to the Committee’s meeting in September/October 2012.