Archived decisions

Contact: Duncan McVey, tel 023 80 86 8234

1. Summary

1.1 This report sets out the Borough Council's proposals to implement a Special Parking Area covering the Borough and requests that funding be allocated from the Local Transport Plan (LTP) settlement to assist with the capital set up costs.

2. Background

2.1 A specialist consultant has undertaken a study into the feasibility of decriminalised parking enforcement in Eastleigh. The general conclusion reached was that the creation of the Special Parking Area is financially viable within a timescale of five years and is operationally desirable, given the limited enforcement currently being undertaken by the police and the level of illegal parking in Eastleigh and the surrounding area.

2.2 In September 2002 the Borough Council's Executive Committee considered the consultant's findings and gave permission to request approval to proceed with the implementation of the Special Parking Area.

2.3 Permission was also given to ask this Panel to consider funding the whole of the Capital set up costs from LTP funds. The Borough Council has made revenue provision to facilitate an early start to this project, but only on the basis that ultimately all the capital set up costs of the scheme will be met by the Highway Authority.

2.4 There have been informal meetings between County and Borough Council officers where it has been suggested that these proposals would form a sensible approach. This report is the beginning of a formal process.

3. Proposals

3.1 It is intended to undertake all the preparation work over a 24 month period commencing October 2002, subject to funding. It is intended that responsibility of enforcement duties will be handed over by the police in October 2004.

3.2 The first stage in the process will be to review and revise signing and lining to ensure it accords with the Traffic Regulation Orders. This will involve amendments of out of date Orders and their consolidation, as well as the plotting of all parking restrictions onto a computer-based mapping system.

3.3 Ongoing practical and procedural changes will be made over the 24 month period, such as the centralising of the Car Park Administration function and the introduction of hand-held computers for the issue of Penalty Charge Notices. The programme allows staff to become familiar with the new systems ahead of `going live', thus reducing the risk of problems.

3.4 The overall capital set up costs (which include start up costs such as training) is estimated at approximately £330,000. In addition, a Project Manager will need to be employed through financial years 2002/03/04. This is based on the work of the consultant and still needs to be confirmed.

Recommendation

That the Executive Member for Environment be advised that the Panel recommends that:

(i) the capital funding of the setting up of a Special Parking Area covering the Eastleigh Borough area be supported;

(ii) the funding be considered for incorporation into the Borough and County Councils' Capital Programmes when considered in January 2003;

(iii) approval be given for an application to the Secretary of State to designate the Borough of Eastleigh as a Special Parking Area and Permitted Parking Area pursuant to Section 43 and Schedule 3 of the Road Traffic Act 1991; and

(iv) under Section 19 of the Local Government Act 2000 and the Local Authorities (Arrangements for the Discharge of Functions) Regulations 2000, a separate Agreement be completed between the County Council and Eastleigh Borough Council to delegate the functions and services given to the County Council by the Secretary of State in designating the area as a Special Parking Area/Permitted Parking Area.

7436/DMcV