Agenda item
Travel plans and parking permits for schools
- Meeting of Highways Committee, Thursday 11 October 2012 7.00 pm (Item 8.)
- View the background to item 8.
This report provides the Committee with a progress report for the development of STPs (School Travel Plans) including the current position regarding the issue and renewal of special “School Parking Permits” and, as determined by the Executive Committee on 19 September 2012, their phased withdrawal.
Decision:
(i) that the progress made on developing School Travel Plans be noted;
(ii) that the decision by the Executive on 19 September 2012 to adopt a phased withdrawal of School Parking Permits be noted.
Minutes:
The report provided the Committee with a progress report for the development of STPs (School Travel Plans). It also informed members of the current position regarding the issue and renewal of special “School Parking Permits” and their phased withdrawal, as determined by the Executive on 19 September 2012.
The Head of Transportation informed the Committee that the Council supported school travel plans and actively encouraged all schools to develop and regularly review their plans. Officers were available to support schools and provide guidance relating to their travel plan development and implementation. He added that in order to encourage more schools to review their STPs, the Schools Safer Roads scheme (subject to the confirmation of funding) would only be available to schools that had carried out an approved plan review. The scheme (Schools Safer Roads) aimed to make the area outside a school safer for pupils by targeting parking issues through education and enforcement. Officers were also working closely with Brent’s Healthy Schools Co-ordinator to potentially award a small grant to schools that both reviewed their STP & achieved Healthy School status. This initiative was at an early stage but the target was to have it in place by April 2013
He then referred to the Special Parking Permits for schools, which had been provided by Brent since 2008 and were issued subject to the following criteria;
· schools that were experiencing difficulties recruiting teachers;
· schools that had a current approved travel plan at bronze or higher standard;
· schools located within a CPZ area; and
· schools that did not have sufficient on site or local parking for staff.
Member’s noted that currently there were 157 permits in circulation within 12 schools and that the number of individual permits issued for a school ranged between 5 and 20. The schools were responsible for the £75 charge per permit and for issuing individual permits. The permits are valid for one year, are for use by specific vehicles only, not transferable and restricted to the CPZ in which the school was located.
At their meeting on 19 September 2012, the Executive considered proposals to rationalise and simplify permit charges and issuance throughout the Borough. The availability of school permits was considered as part of this process and, as a result, members resolved to withdraw the current school permit scheme in a phased manner.
To incentivise travel plan improvements and provide an opportunity for schools to “phase out” their use of special school permits, the Executive proposed that if a school with existing permits achieved Silver STP standard by October 2013 that school would be allowed to renew two-thirds of their existing permits for a further 24 months. After that period, any schools that achieved Gold STP standard by October 2015 would have a final option to renew one half of any remaining permits for a further 12 month period. This reduction was intended to reflect the schools commitment to sustainable travel and reduce the number of journeys using private cars.
Jenny Issac, Assistant Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods added that she had written to all schools explaining the new system.
Councillor Beswick added that the new system of awards, designed to incentivise travel plan improvements, was a step in the right direction.
Mr Ron Chambers, a local resident of Harlesden, in addressing the Committee circulated photographs to demonstrate his point that the school travel plan was not being properly enforced. He cited as an example, Maple Lodge School in Longstone Avenue where teachers and parents were illegally parking, to highlight his point.
The Head of Transportation undertook to pass on the photographs to the Road Safety Officer.
RESOLVED:
(i) that the progress made on developing School Travel Plans be noted;
(ii) that the decision by the Executive on 19 September 2012 to adopt a phased withdrawal of School Parking Permits be noted.
Supporting documents: