Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from the Chair (Councillor Cairns) and Councillor Sweeney.

Resolved:     That Councillor Kieron be appointed Chair for the meeting

Resolved:     That the minutes of the meeting held 28 October 2013 be approved as a correct record and signed by the chair for the meeting.

It was noted that in relation to Item 22 the proposals may lead to move enforcement across all areas.

There were no declarations of interest

In the absence of his colleague from Staffordshire County Council Graham Williams reported on the introduction of the Local Champion role to support the development of Residents Parking Zones. The Joint Staffordshire Parking Board had recommended that the new way of working was adopted by the eight District Local Parking Committees.

Due to the number of elected members present at the meeting and the absence of any representatives from Staffordshire County Council, members were reluctant to make a decision on this matter and decided that consideration be deferred until the next meeting of the Committee.

Resolved:     That consideration of this matter be deferred until the next meeting of the Committee

Members considered a report which outlined the future arrangements for Civil Parking Enforcement in Staffordshire together with the timetable for the development of new arrangements.

Members noted the tight time restraints for the transition of Civil Parking enforcement from the current arrangements through to the procurement of a Strategic Delivery Partner through Infrastructure.

Councillor Tagg wanted the “local flavour” and knowledge of the district areas to be maintained, parking control and enforcement in the local area was working well and he wished to see the service maintain local control.

Resolved:     That Staffordshire County Council be informed that this Authority wishes to maintain locally controlled Civil Parking Enforcement.

Members considered a report which outlined the introduction of the prioritisation of Parking Related Traffic Regulation Orders.

In the period January to March each year the Committee would identify/review a two year forward programme based on a rolling programme of four parking related orders currently funded by the County Council and any additional parking orders funded by the District CPE account (subject to certain conditions). Those schemes identified in the first year of the programme remain fixed for the year.

The programme for the second year will be subject to change pending requests for parking related orders that are received and which the committee considered to have a higher priority than those already identified.

A list will be maintained of requests that score more than 50% of the available marks. The requests that receive less than 10 points via the initial assessment process will be considered a low priority.

At six monthly intervals the Committee will receive a list of new requests assessed against the assessment matrix and will be able to reconsider priorities of schemes beyond the current year of the programme.

Members went on to discuss the decision making process within the suggested scheme.

Councillor Kearon questioned the level of influence which could be introduced locally to help shape and advise priority decisions. Councillor Studd, supported this view and considered that the criteria should be used as a guide rather that a rule. Councillor Loades suggested that, as pilot, the top 8 or 10 Traffic Regulation Orders be referred to local members.

Members felt that it would be helpful for both local and County Councillors to have an input into the decision making process and in this respect felt that a representative from the County Council be asked to advise on the “workability” of  this involvement.

Members were reluctant to give approval to the report in the absence of a representative from Staffordshire County Council but considered that the scheme should be a pilot for a year and that local members be given 5 clear working days to have an input prior to a final decision on the Order being made.

Resolved      That approval be given to a pilot scheme for a year in relation to the prioritisation of Parking related Traffic Regulation Orders and subject to local elected members being given 5 clear days’ notice of the whole of the schemes.

A report was presented which sought the view of members on a consultation document from the Department of Transport concerning local authority parking.

With regard to proposal 2 the use of CCTV should not be abolished as there are a number of situations which could benefit from its use within current guidelines.

With regard to proposal 6 – retail should be included alongside residential and industrial.

Resolved      That subject to the amendments now indicated the report be approved and the consultation document be sent to the Department for Transport.

None received