Executive – 6 July 2011
On Street Parking Enforcement
The Subject of the Decision Cumbria County Council has requested that Allerdale BC undertakes on street parking enforcement in Copeland. Officers have negotiated terms with the County to fulfil this function and now seek Members’ views on the proposal.
The Reason for the Decision To authorise the deployment of Allerdale Civil Enforcement Officers to operate in the Borough of Copeland
Recommendation s That the Coun cil enters into an agreement with Cumbria County Council to undertake Civil Parking Enforcement in Copeland under the terms set down in this report.
Climate Change/ Environmental None arising from this report Implications
Community Safety Implicatio ns None arising from this report
Financial /Resource Implications The agreement with the County Council provides for a guaranteed monthly income which is reviewed against actual costs. This will, to an extent, insulate the Council against fluctuations in income from Penalty Charge Notices.
Human Rights Implications None arising from this report
Employment Implications The agreement would not impact on staffing levels within the Parking Services Team.
Health and Safety and Risk Parking Services staff receive training to Management Implications minimise potential conflict in carrying out their roles and minimise any health and safety risk. There is a risk that the County Council may reduce the level of service it requires in the light of the cost of the service, which may impact on staffing levels.
Data Quality Implications None arising from this report
Equality Impact Assessment No completed
Wards Affected n/a
The Contribution this Decision would Contributes to Strategic Objective 7 – work make to the Strategic Objectives in with communities and partners to develop a the Council Plan. flexible approach to delivering services
Is this a Key Decision No
Portfolio Holder Cllr Michael Heaslip
Lead Member of Staff Chris Ro lle Property and Parking Services Manager
Ian Payne Strategic Manager Places
(A detailed listed of implications is appended to the report)
1.0 Introduction
1.1 Cumbria County Council has requested that Allerdale Borough Council undertakes on street parking enforcement in Copeland, following that Authority’s withdrawal from its agreement on 31 st March. Currently Carlisle City Council carries out parking enforcement duties in Eden District, which has established a useful precedent. Officers have negotiated terms with the County to fulfil this function and now seek Members’ views on the proposal.
2.0 Background
2.1 For a number of years, Cumbria County Council has been promoting the concept of a single agency undertaking parking enforcement across the county. Previously, District Councils carried out on street enforcement on behalf of the County Council but the delays in creating the new agency has prompted a number of Districts to give notice to withdraw.
2.1 Allerdale’s agreement has also been terminated but is renewed on a rolling basis until 31 st October 2011.
2.2 The rationale for this position is that the Council has been seeking to protect staff insofar as they would transfer to any new organization under TUPE regulations. As yet, no firm business case has been presented by County to allow this authority to assess whether off street (ie Council Car Parks) enforcement would be most effectively undertaken by the new agency or whether that function is best retained in house (and potentially combined with other enforcement activity).
2.3 The on street enforcement service is funded through Penalty Charge Notice income and a subsidy from the County Council. Currently, this Authority uses Civil Enforcement Officers to carry out combined patrols covering on street and off street (car parks) locations. Whilst this operation is efficient in the use of staff time, obtaining the true costs for the on street parking service is difficult. The open book approach proposed in paragraph 3.2 will address this issue.
3 Enforcement in Copeland 3.1 The request from Cumbria County Council is for Allerdale to carry out a specific programme of enforcement activity in Copeland. This activity would be carried out under a Cumbria County Council badge.
3.2 In the absence of a formal ‘offer’ from Cumbria, Allerdale Officers put the following proposal to the Highways department:
‘Enforcement in Copeland is an unknown quantity, given the lack of enforcement in previous months. The Parking and Property Services Manager has identified spare capacity within the team that can be utilised for enforcement in Copeland. This approach will safeguard employment in the team pending a full review in due course.’
We are therefore proposing that Cumbria County Council pays Allerdale an agreed monthly fee to cover:
On Street enforcement in Allerdale On Street enforcement in Copeland, including sickness and holiday cover Additional operating and management costs associated with the Copeland operation Back Office PCN challenge functions in Allerdale and Copeland Residents Permit administration in Allerdale
The initial fee should be £10,000 per month. This figure to be reviewed quarterly, in the light of actual costs and income.
In the light of the uncertainties above, we would either expect Cumbria County Council to guarantee any losses over the duration of the agreement (against an agreed level of service provision), and/or to include an appropriate termination clause in the agreement.’
The response from the Assistant Director to this proposal was: 1. acceptance of up to £10,000 per month on a monthly basis until such time as alternative arrangements are in place. 2. funding being provided on the basis that Allerdale and the County work together on an open book basis for parking enforcement and should enforcement revenues provide for a more positive net budget then the funding would reduce accordingly. 3. Allerdale administers the resident's permits for Copeland
3.3 Whilst the Council is not obliged to support the County Council in taking on the enforcement role in Copeland, the arrangements set out above safeguard this Authority’s financial position and allows both councils to assess the potential efficiencies of a shared service arrangement going forward.
Ian Payne Strategic Manager - Places
file ref date Report Implications
Please delete where applicable.
Community Safety N Sport N Financial Y Leisure N Legal Y Tourism Y Social Inclusion N E-Government N Human Rights N North West Regional N Youth Issues N European N Ethnic Minority Issues N National N Older People Issues N Partnership Y Disability Issues N Heritage/Culture N Employment (external to the Council) N Planning Policy N Employment (internal) Y Enforcement Y Environmental/sustainability N Transport Y Environmental/visual N Asset Management N Health N Health and Safety N
Is this a statutory recommendation? N
Is this a key decision? N
Has a risk assessment been undertaken? N
Wards affected Copeland wards ..
Background papers