Decision details

(1) The proposed amendment to the parking appeal guidance document, allowing a motorist to pay at the discounted amount in cases where a motorist states that they had not received a PCN on the windscreen, be agreed.

(2) A PCN be written off on the first occasion where a motorist receives a PCN having parked outside of his/her property on a restriction designed to prevent commuter parking (this being intended to only apply to CPZs and in cases where the vehicle concerned is registered to a keeper residing at a property in the area).

(3) Authority be delegated to the Executive Director and Portfolio Holder for the Environment, to make policy guidance amendments in the future that have minor financial and/or service implications.

This decision provides approval for two amendments to the current parking appeal guidance: 

(i) in cases where a motorist claims not to have received a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) on the windscreen, and

(ii) in cases where a motorist receives a PCN having parked outside their property on a restriction designed to prevent commuter parking.

For (i) above, Parking Services currently reoffer a discounted amount when mitigating circumstances can be reasonably demonstrated. However, if mitigating circumstances cannot be reasonably demonstrated, a motorist will have to pay the full amount. Occasionally, a motorist can also claim not to have received a PCN, causing a high level of dissatisfaction and a feeling of unfair treatment, leading to complaints or further appeals to the adjudicator.

For (ii) above, a resident parking on a restriction outside of their property, which is only to prevent commuter parking, might have one ticket written off in any rolling 12 month period. This is intended to only apply to CPZs and not to all single yellow lines and in cases where the vehicle concerned is registered to a keeper residing at a property in the area.