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Annual Parking Enforcement Reportfor The London Borough of Bexley

2008-2009

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Contents

1. Introduction Page 3

2. Purpose and Scope of Annual Report Page 3

3. Parking Policy Page 3

4. Enforcement Service Page 4

5. Performance Charts Page 5

6. Car Parks Page 8

7. Financial Information Page 8

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1. Introduction

Bexley s Parking Services works to providesafe and free moving travel throughout theborough whilst ensuring there is sufficientparking facilities available for local

businesses, residents and visitors.

On 31 March 2008 the legislative frameworkwhich governs how Local Authorities carryout civil parking enforcement changed fromthe Road Traffic Act 1991 to the TrafficManagement Act 2004 (TMA) (part 6).Significant sections of the Road Traffic Act1991 were replaced by the TMA, since thattime the London Borough of Bexley hascontinued to implement changes to improve

the quality of service provided to itscustomers and to meet the objectives of theTMA.

The TMA guidance requires Londonboroughs to regularly review their parkingpolicies, Civil Parking Enforcement regimesand associated regulatory framework. Whenreviewing their Local Implementation Plans(LIPs). Bexleys first LIP (2006/7-2010/11)was approved by the Mayor of London in

January 2007. It included a Parking andEnforcement Plan (PEP) setting out theCouncils parking policies and enforcementregimes. The next LIP (LIP2) will be preparedfollowing the publication of the Mayor ofLondons revised Transport Strategy in late2008 or early 2009. Transport for London(TfL) will then need to produce guidance forthe new LIP based on the new strategy.When the LIP is reviewed the PEP will beupdated including where necessary changes

to reflect the TMA.

In the interim; given the changes related tothe TMA and in the interests of customerservice, it is considered that more informationshould be published than contained within theexisting PEP. For this reason an overview ofparking enforcement policy is availablethrough the Councils Web Sitewww.bex ley .gov .uk /se rv i ce /pa rk ing /index.htm. This has been in place since the

end of March 2008. In the future this overviewwill be consolidated as part of the boroughsLIP and PEP, which will also be available tothe public.

2. Purpose and Scope of Annual

Report

This is the first formal annual report whichaims to detail the key objectives for civilparking enforcement, since the changes

contained within the TMA and the move to aCivil Parking Enforcement regime from adecriminalised one. A performance reportwas published for year 2007/08 which isavailable for comparison purposes and canbe found at http://www.bexley.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=1369&p=0

The Council is committed to operating itsparking operation in a fair and consistentmanner. It is committed to being transparent

about its parking and enforcement activitiesfor which it is accountable and intends topublish a consistent set of statistical andfinancial information each year. This includesthe number of penalty charges issued, theincome and expenditure on its parkingaccount and how any parking surplus isspent. The Council will also publish otherinformation regarding the processing ofPCNs, such as the number paid andcancelled.

3. Parking Policy

Parking policy objectives are set out fully inthe PEP, but in general terms the Authorityseeks to ensure that whilst demand forparking in the Borough can at times outstripthe supply of kerb space available, theCouncil will seek to maintain an activebalance between the different demands from residents, visitors, businesses,commercial deliveries, customers andshoppers as well as special access groupssuch as the disabled and vulnerable etc. Thisalso needs to be balanced with the duty ofthe Council to keep traffic moving, preventingand enforcing against unsafe and obstructiveparking, and making sure there is goodaccess for pedestrians, cyclists, buses andmotorists.

Alongside this, is the aim of sustainability:

restraining non essential traffic to achieveefficient movements of essential vehicles(e.g. emergency services and deliveries). It is

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essential to encourage people to move in themost efficient and sustainable ways possible.To help achieve this conditions for walking,cycling and use of public transport, includingmaking these movements safer are a priority.In addition to improving the efficiency of ourroad network, the Council is looking tominimise the wider impact of traffic on airquality and climate change.

4. Enforcement Service

Approximately 25 Civil Enforcement Officers(CEOs) are employed to carry out civilparking enforcement duties on behalf of theborough. They are deployed throughout theborough as a whole. In addition, three Mobilein Car Camera Enforcement (MICE) vehiclesprovide support concentrating resources

around poor parking practices at schools, inbus stops and other parking hot spots in theborough. CEOs are uniformed and carry ID atall times.

CEOs are required to make detailed notes ofall Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) issuedand where possible (although it is not amandatory requirement), obtain supportivedigital photographic evidence.

CEOs patrol set beats and are required tomeet a set frequency of visits within theirworking day. They are also deployed to carryout ad-hoc patrols to meet public requests forenforcement and to help deal with localisedparking problems.

The performance of CEOs is measured on

the quality of service they provide and howwell they assist in meeting the objectives ofcivil parking enforcement. Historicalinformation, regarding the area, time of day

and seasonal variations is used to assist withany assessment made. Specific targets forthe issue of PCNs are not set, nor are CEOsoffered any inducement or bonus paymentbased on the number of PCNs issued.

In line with the rest of London, differentialcharges were introduced in Bexley on 1st

July 2007. Since their introduction the penaltycharge issued is dependant on the categoryof contravention. There are two categories,"More Serious" and "Less Serious". MoreSerious contraventions, such as parking onyellow lines, on the pavement, on bus stops,on zigzag markings etc, are issued at ahigher charge than the Less Serious ones,such as over-staying on time purchased at ameter, parking outside of a marked bay etc.Chart 4 shows a breakdown of PCNs issued

between more serious and less serious (orhigher and lower charge). The chartdemonstrates that the Council hasconcentrated its resources on addressing themore serious contraventions within theborough as these contraventions impactsignificantly on the key performanceobjectives of maintaining public safety andkeeping traffic flowing.

All PCNs are reduced by 50 per cent if paid

within a statutory discount period.

The following charts provide details of keycivil parking enforcement statistics for theperiod 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2009. Theyrepresent a snap shot of that period and itshould be noted that due to the timescalesassociated with processing PCNs many

cases span across reporting periods.

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Chart 1 Breakdown of the 56,302 PCNs issued between 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2009.There has been a reduction of 13% on the previous year in the number of PCNs issued. Inaddition, there has been an increase of 6% on the previous year in the number of PCNs paid.These figures demonstrate an improvement in the quality of the PCNs issued and together withthe reduced number of PCNs which were outstanding as of 31 March 2009, shows animprovement in the quality of the services offered overall.It should be noted that since 31 March

2009 many of the live PCNs would also have been resolved.

Chart 2 Breakdown of the location of PCNs issued between 1 April 2007 and 31 March2008. Off street refers to PCNs issued in one of the Councils 20 car parks. MICE refers to PCNsissued by Mobile in Car Enforcement

74%

13%

13%

On Street

Off Street

MICE

72%

16%

12%

paid

CancelledLive @ 31/03/09

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Chart 3 Most common contraventions based on PCNs issued between 1 April 2008 and 31March 2009. The remaining PCNs were issued across a further 27 contraventions

Chart 4 Breakdown of issued PCNs issued between 1 April 2008 and 31 March 2009 for

Serious and Less Serious Contraventions

The more serious contraventions include such areas as school and pedestrian zigzag markings,waiting and loading restrictions and footway parking as shown in Chart 3. This demonstrates howpriority enforcement is given to those areas where road safety and traffic flow must be maintained.

Contraventions 2008-2009

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

1

Single/Double Yellow Lines Footway Parking Resident Parking Bays

Restricted Bus Stop No P&D Car parks No P&D On Street

Expired P&D Car Parks Meter in Penalty Loading Bay

School Zig Zags Expired P&D On Street

77%

23%

Serious

Less Serious

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Chart 5 15,952 Representations received related to PCNs issued between 1 April 2008 to31 March 2009.

Chart 6 Outcome of appeals related to PCNs issued between 1 April 2008 to 31 March2009. It should be noted that only 1.71% of PCNs issued were appealed. No contest cases arethose withdrawn by the Council prior to the appeal hearing usually because the motorist hasprovided further (late) evidence to support their case which is accepted and the case closed. Thepercentage of cases refused and the PCNs upheld has increased this year from 48% to55%

37%

61%

2%

Allowed

Refused

Appeals

32%

55%

13%

Allowed Cases

Refused Cases

No Contest

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6. Car Parks

The Council is committed to enhancing the safety and security of its car parks. Improvementshave been undertaken in a number of Council car parks including Closed Circuit TV (CCTV),emergency help points, improved lighting, security fencing, internal decoration, layout changesand up-dated signing. This has culminated in the Association Of Chief Police Officers and the

British Parking Association awarding the Council the prestigious Safer Parking Award for 16 of theCouncil's car parks. These awards are reviewed annually and standards must be maintained toretain the awards with annual inspections being undertaken.

The Council currently operates 20 car parks across the Borough. In all but one car park it isnecessary to purchase a pay and display ticket to use the facility. The other car park, inBexleyheath town centre is free for Blue Badge holders only.

A programme of further works is underway to improve safety in the car parks and where possibleto increase the number of spaces available. Capital funding has been given for refurbishmentworks in the Cinema Car Park in Bexleyheath which will provide better CCTV, help points andimprove the existing lighting.

7. Financial Information

The Statutory Guidance provides that for good governance, enforcement authorities need toforecast revenue in advance, however raising revenue should not be the objective of Civil ParkingEnforcement, nor may the authority set targets for revenue or the number of Penalty ChargeNotices issued.

The purpose of penalty charges is to encourage compliance by dissuading motorists fromcontravening parking restrictions. London Councils set the penalty charges and the Councilparking charges so they are proportionate and reasonable.

Payments received (whether for on-street or off-street enforcement) must only be used inaccordance with section 55 (as amended) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. This Act limitsthe purposes to which a local authority may spend any surplus resulting from income derived fromon street parking spaces. This was however, amended by the TMA and restrictions on Councilsthat do not require further off-street parking was relaxed to permit any surplus to be used for otherpurposes which the authority lawfully incurs expenditure.

The following tables set out the income and expenditure for the year 2008/09 and details the useof the surplus income which has been used in accordance with the regulations.

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Total Parking Income Account (000s)

Parking Fees 597

Penalty Charge Notices 2,456

Total Income 3,053

Total Expenditure 2,099

Surplus / Deficit (000s) 954

Application of Fund Surplus towards the following schemes

(000s)

Capital Expenditure at 31st

March 2009

Controlled Parking 50

Surface Water Drainage (no external funding) 154

Highway Maintenance Structural (of Total Budget 1,332.000) 414

Town Centre Enhancements 23

Total 641

Revenue Budget (000s)

Traffic and Road Safety Schemes Contractor Costs 345

Road Safety -

Special Campaigns 13

Training Schemes 4

School Travel Plans 38

Total 400