Agenda item

The Commercial and Customer Services Director introduced the report.

 

Following discussion and consideration of the item;

 

Councillor Schneiderman, seconded by Councillor Dr. Devra Kay moved the following amendments to the draft parking policy;

 

 

1.            Section 4.1.3 - Short stay parking, page 213 (penultimate paragraph) Add at end: “In order to build on this, a minimum of 30 minutes free parking will be introduced in all of Barnet’s town centres”.

 

Full paragraph to read:

In some areas, the Council has provided limited stay free parking which has a maximum stay period and a “no?return” period. These measures, primarily introduced near smaller local parades of shops, were introduced to encourage increased patronage and a regular turnover of parked vehicles.  In order to build on this, a minimum of 30 minutes free parking will be introduced in all of Barnet’s town centres.

 

The amendment was put to the vote. Votes were recorded as follows:

 

In favour	5
Against	6
Abstentions	0

 

The amendment was declared lost.

 

 

2.            Section 4.2.1 - Legal standpoint, page 213 (second paragraph under bullet points).  After “card, disc, token”, add “cash”.  After “other payment methods” add “including the planned adaption of parking meters to take cash”.

 

Full paragraph to read:

 

The legislation provides for payment to be made via a parking meter or pay and display machine, or be indicated by a card, disc, token, cash or similar. It also allows for the issue of permits. In recent years, it has been acknowledged that payment for parking and permits with or without display of a ticket, permit or parking device, is also possible via mobile phone other digital communication device or via the internet, which has resulted in many local authorities, including Barnet, utilising pay by phone and other payment methods, including the planned adaptation of parking meters to take cash.

 

The amendment was put to the vote. Votes were recorded as follows:

 

In favour	5
Against	6
Abstentions	0

 

The amendment was declared lost.

 

 

 

 

3.            Section 4.2.2 How the Council Sets Parking Charges (page 214).  Delete the whole of the third paragraph that begins “A number of options were rejected”.  Replace with:

 

It is noted that a flat rate option was the most popular method of charging for parking permits.  It is also noted that there was significant support for reducing air pollution.  Further work should be done on analysing charging systems that have successfully worked in other councils.  In order to ensure that the costs imposed on residents are fair, any change in the permit charging system must be considered alongside the proposed charges themselves.

 

The amendment was put to the vote. Votes were recorded as follows:

 

In favour	5
Against	6
Abstentions	0

 

The amendment was declared lost.

 

 

4.            Section 6.9 Parking Controls, Short stay pay by phone parking schemes (page 221).  Delete “pay by phone” from heading and in the first sentence change: “in some cases”to “in all cases”

 

Full paragraph to read:

 

Short stay parking schemes

 

This is paid parking used near busy local shopping parades in all cases incorporating an initial free parking period.  Tariffs can vary from area to area to meet local demands in accordance with looking to attain an 85% occupancy rate.

 

The amendment was put to the vote. Votes were recorded as follows:

 

In favour	5
Against	6
Abstentions	0

 

The amendment was declared lost.

 

 

5.            Section 7 - Permits and vouchers, page 224 (second paragraph).  Add at end:  “However, the allowance scheme for councillors is designed to cover the cost of travel within the London Borough of Barnet and councillors are not therefore entitled to claim free parking permits.”

 

Full paragraph to read:

 

There are occasions when additional needs within the local communities require that other classifications of motorist be granted parking permits. The council is committed to publicly consult following statutory provisions where necessary on any new permits type that could be provided to a specific group.  The allowance scheme for councillors is designed to cover the cost of travel within the London Borough of Barnet and councillors are not therefore entitled to claim free parking permits.

 

The amendment was put to the vote. Votes were recorded as follows:

 

In favour	5
Against	6
Abstentions	0

 

The amendment was declared lost.

 

 

6.            Appendix 10: Aims of Enforcement activity (page 249) In the fifth bullet point change “rigorously” to “fairly”

 

To ensure that parking enforcement staff issuing PCNs do so fairly and on a non?discriminatory basis in all cases where contraventions have occurred. Account can only be taken of extenuating circumstances or other such factors in cases where recipients of PCNs make representations and appeals as above.

 

The amendment was put to the vote. Votes were recorded as follows:

 

In favour	11
Against	0
Abstentions	0

 

The amendment was declared carried

 

 

7.            Formal representations, page 262 (final paragraph in this section).  Keep the first sentence:

 

“It is important to note that, under the TMA, elected members (Councillors, MPs and MEPs) cannot influence the outcome of representations against a PCN: there (sic) role is defined as contributing to the reviewing and setting of overall policies.”

 

Delete the remainder of the paragraph and replace with:

 

“However, elected members are entitled to make representations on behalf of their constituents”.

 

Full paragraph to read:

 

It is important to note that, under the TMA, elected members (Councillors, MPs and MEPs) cannot influence the outcome of representations against a PCN: there role is defined as contributing to the reviewing and setting of overall policies.  However, elected members are entitled to make representations on behalf of their constituents.

 

The amendment was put to the vote. Votes were recorded as follows:

 

In favour	11
Against	0
Abstentions	0

 

The amendment was declared carried

 

 

Councillor Schneiderman, seconded by Councillor Dr. Devra Kay moved the following amendments to the recommendations; 

 

8.             Recommendation 3 (page 78) Delete “as appropriate”.  Full recommendation to read:

 

That the Environment Committee notes the appendices to the Policy will be revised as required and will be presented to the committee.

 

The amendment was put to the vote. Votes were recorded as follows:

 

In favour	11
Against	0
Abstentions	0

 

The amendment was declared carried

 

 

9.             Recommendation 4 (page 78) Delete “if necessary”.  Full recommendation to read:

 

That the Environment Committee authorise officers to develop a costed action plan to implement the new Parking Policy, which will be presented to this committee.

 

The amendment was put to the vote. Votes were recorded as follows:

 

In favour	11
Against	0
Abstentions	0

 

The amendment was declared carried

 

RESOLVED – The recommendations as amended;

 

1.             That the Environment Committee notes the results of the public consultation exercise.

 

2.             That the Environment Committee notes the amendments to the draft Parking Policy and approves the Policy for implementation. 

 

3.             That the Environment Committee notes the appendices to the Policy will be revised as required and will be presented to the committee.

 

4.             That the Environment Committee authorise officers to develop a costed action plan to implement the new Parking Policy, which will be presented to this Committee.

 

Votes were recorded as follows:

 

In favour	6
Against	5
Abstentions	0