Cheshire East Council Parking Services Annual Report 2016/17. www.cheshireeast.gov.uk Foreword Foreword by Frank Jordan & Cllr D Stockton Welcome to Cheshire East Council’s Parking Services Team’s second annual report. The availability and effective use of parking (for any type of vehicle) is an important tool in managing traffic, as well as the quality of the local environment, and has a role in supporting our local economic vitality. The Council’s work on climate into our road and infrastructure change and green travel promotes maintenance which connects us as a better use of the car and healthier place and road safety projects which more environmentally friendly protect us and helps us thrive as a alternatives, such as walking, cycling, community. motorcycles and the use of public transport. Cheshire East Council will also continue to work to ensure that Travel Plans for schools and there is adequate parking for cycles, businesses are also seen as a key motorcycles and that the special element in reducing car usage needs of disabled people are met by tackling different aspects of and that parking for parents/carers businesses transport. with children is considered. Cheshire East will encourage The Council needs to meet ever alternative travel choices through more complex challenges and availability and appropriate pricing exceptional levels of pressure to of town centre parking. All parking provide a modern, well-informed and income is ploughed directly back fair parking service for all residents, Parking Annual Report 2016/17 | 3 Contents Frank Jordan Cllr Don Stockton Executive Director PLACE Portfolio Holder Environment & interim deputy Chief Executive businesses, visitors, shoppers, Our personal aspiration is to use commuters and workers to and enforcement as a tool to achieve across the borough. 100% compliance with parking restrictions thus eventually resulting Over the coming years, the Council in there being no need to issue any Contents will need to find ways to cover its Penalty Charge Notices. costs, invest in additional parking provision, improve the quality of With important partnership working in 01. Introduction 07 its parking places, manage traffic conjunction with our Highways, Legal, 02. Parking Services Overview 09 flow and reduce congestion, whilst Countryside, Alternative Service at the same time, protecting the Delivery Vehicles (ASDV’s – ESAR 03. Successes - 2016/17 13 environment and public health. & ANSA), Environmental Health & 04. Contract Parking Permits 25 Blue Badge administration teams, The Council will aim to provide the Parking Services team play an 05. Residents Parking Schemes 29 parking to high standards of safety, important role in trying to keep our 06. Partnership Working 33 security and cleanliness, following, roads and highway areas safe and 07. Parking Provision 37 where it is able, national guidelines with free flowing traffic. and benchmarks. This will include 08. RingGo 45 improved parking facilities, at an 09. On & Off-Street Parking Contraventions 49 appropriate charge to actual service 10. Reporting Problems 53 users. “ In order for Cheshire East to continue to 11. Civil Enforcement & Parking Restrictions Explained 55 With a pro-active and sensible 12. Enforcement of Parking Restrictions 59 approach to enforcement, we will be a fantastic place need to have the structures and to live, work and visit 13. Access Protection Markings - H-bars 63 processes in place to ensure that we it is vital that the 14. Dealing with Challenges & Appeals 65 take our responsibilities seriously with 15. The Cheshire East Blue Badge Scheme 69 regards to the free flowing movement Parking Services Team of traffic, whilst ensuring we deter sustainably contribute 16. Future Focus 73 and re-educate those motorists 17. Staff Stories 77 who continue to park irresponsibly, to help and support inconsiderately and above all, in our people, residents 18. Income & Expenditure 83 contravention. and businesses.” 19. Statistical Information 86 4 | Cheshire East Council Parking Annual Report 2016/17 | 5 Introduction We have a population of 370,700 We are the We third largest employ Unitary Authority 4000 in the staff North West Introduction Cheshire East is an amazing place to live, work, visit and invest. We are proud to be one of the biggest employers in There are the area, employing around 4000 staff based in offices and 11 town councils, other workplaces across the Borough. 97 parish councils and 7 parish meetings We are the third largest Authority in Town and parish councils have a key the North West. role in representing communities, empowering localities and helping As a unitary council, we provide many to deliver local services. There are 11 different services and we offer a wide town councils, 97 parish councils and range of opportunities to employees 7 parish meetings and there is a vast from all backgrounds, ages, skills and difference in size and profile for each. interests. We work hard to deliver on our Cheshire East Our staff are our number one asset promise to ‘Put Residents First’ by is an amazing and our aim is to have a diverse asking our staff to live and breathe place to live, workforce that understands and our values and culture of being open, represents the unique and individual honest and transparent and which work and visit communities they serve. we believe underpin our success. To us ‘Putting Residents First’ is about Local councils are a critical part of really listening and understanding the local government infrastructure what residents and businesses need and have a significant range of and responding appropriately to We work hard to deliver on powers and duties, giving them an provide the best possible service. our promise to ‘Put Residents exclusive and specific role within the community. Local councils undertake Cheshire East covers an area of First’ by asking our staff to live some of these duties and powers to 1,116km2 making it the third largest and breathe our values and varying levels and degrees and many unitary authority enforcement area in raise local precepts for the services the North West with a population of culture of being open, honest they deliver. 370,700. and transparent. 6 | Cheshire East Council Parking Annual Report 2016/17 | 7 Parking Services Parking Overview Parking Services Overview Parking and waiting restrictions and enforcement are a vital part of keeping the roads safe, traffic moving and allowing fair access for all amenities, shops and services. Of equal importance is keeping the highway clear to give unobstructed access for emergency vehicles. Our Staff In 2016/17, the numbers of full time Approval was given in January 2017 equivalent Civil Enforcement Officers to significantly increase the number (CEOs) varied between 12.49 and 14.4 of CEOs following various retirements (by 31/3/17) to issue Penalty Charge and requests for part-time hours. Notices (PCNs) under the Traffic Management Act 2004, where it is 11 FTE posts have been advertised FACT. legal and lawful to do so. and it is anticipated that these will be filled (all subject to satisfactorily All parking restrictions must Three other officers (Senior CEOs) passing a six months probationary be complied with for the safety who are trained CEOs but have period) by 31/3/18. Updates on supervisory/training roles support progress will be given in the 17/18 of pedestrians, children and these officers by undertaking annual report. other road users. additional patrols where necessary. It is not ok to drop your children off at the school Irrelevant excuse given upon receiving a PCN gates! “I had to stop here as my pet dog wanted to pee.” 8 | Cheshire East Council Parking Annual Report 2016/17 | 9 Parking Services Parking Overview Penalty Charge Notices Penalty Charge Notices are issued for contraventions of the parking restrictions. Despite myths that Council’s set their own levels, it is true to say that under government legislation there are only two levels of contravention, higher (£70) and lower (£50) dependent upon the seriousness of the contravention. A Parking Services Supervisor, two Senior CEOs and 2 of our initial first wave new ‘probies’ If paid within 14 days, the penalty charge is reduced by 50%. These levels are set not by the local authority but by the Cheshire East Council as a Resident around school areas and those that Secretary of State for Transport and we can neither decrease and Business First Council is keen to block access on roads’. nor increase them. look at how we can support our local town and village centres. The Civil The team also cover enforcement Enforcement Officers have a dual on the numerous car parks across Cheshire East Council’s Civil Enforcement Officers operate enforcing parking role to play in becoming what is now the borough which are either owned, and waiting restrictions, to ensure maximum space availability and turnaround recognised as front line ambassadors leased or run by CEC to ensure that for customers and business visitors, using the following guiding principles: for the Council. Traditionally cars are parked within marked bays called ‘Traffic Wardens’ or ‘Parking and do not outstay the period of time • Where unlawful, irresponsible or • Where parking spaces are taken up Attendants’, the CEOs are split over for which they have purchased a pay inconsiderate parking stops traffic by motorists which are meant to be two sites – Crewe (based in the and display ticket, thus ensuring an (or the free flowing movement of reserved for Blue Badge Holders Municipal Buildings) and Macclesfield appropriate turnaround of spaces traffic) • Allowing for exceptional events (based in the Town Hall). for shoppers, visitors, commuters, • Where cars parked on pavements and circumstances and engaging business users, workers and block the walkway for pedestrians with the community at such We want to be able to make sure residents.