Agenda item

Report ES11057

Members considered a report on the option of introducing charges for Blue Badge holders in Bromley’s car parks. The report also addressed certain parking management and enforcement issues.

Converting time-limited parking bays to Pay and Display - a number of 30 minute time-limited bays in the borough where some motorists parked longer than the maximum permitted period had generated complaints from shopkeepers asking for the situation to be addressed. A number of requests for additional enforcement activity had been recorded over a prolonged period and a proposal was made to convert time-limited free bays to Pay and Display bays at three locations: Carlton shopping parade, Orpington; Croydon Road shopping parade, Elmers End Green; and Mottingham Road.

A consultation letter was sent to local traders asking for views on the proposal but the majority of respondents at each location were unsupportive. Given the results and comments from Ward Members (who were provided with the consultation results) it was recommended that the proposal should not proceed.

Extension of CCTV parking enforcement to Petts Wood using existing cameras - the introduction of enforcement by CCTV cameras in Petts Wood was not supported in consultation by either the Petts Wood and District Residents Association or the Petts Wood Business Association. In light of this, ward Councilors had asked that the proposal is not taken forward and accordingly the change was not recommended.

Charges for Blue Badge holders in car parks - subsequent to the Committee’s meeting on 5^th April 2011, the Environment Portfolio Holder resolved the following: “Following sufficient consultation and the completion of an impact assessment, a further report be provided on the possible introduction of charges for blue badge holders within Council off-street car parks as set out in section 4.4 of report ES11016”.

An equalities impact assessment was undertaken on the implications of introducing charges for blue badge holders and Members were informed of the main issues and measures to address them as appropriate.

Members were also informed of consultation undertaken and it was highlighted that, apart from a few isolated supporting comments, organisations and individuals objected to the proposals. The range of views and comments received fell into three main categories (i) cost/ability to pay, (ii) additional time required and (iii) access. Key points from these comments were outlined.

It was also reported that many organisations commented on associated problems facing disabled people and comments were received concerning the legality of the proposals with specific reference to the Equalities Act in relation to indirect discrimination. Fraudulent use of Blue Badges was also referred to on a number of occasions and respondents wanted the Council to take active steps to address the concern. 

A one day survey of Blue Badge use in all LBB car parks was undertaken to provide a more accurate estimate of potential additional income. This indicated an estimated total income of £40k per year slightly revising estimates reported to Committee in April.

Parking for Care Workers - recently a number of cases had arisen where care workers wished to park their vehicles in restricted areas to support clients. In the case of care workers directly employed by the Council or the NHS, parking availability could be satisfactorily addressed through management action but control of staff parking could not be directly exercised where external private or voluntary sector agencies provided care.

In rare cases where no practical parking solution could be found it was possible to issue a discretionary resident’s permit for clients. In such circumstances a charging option was proposed for consideration along with two further options namely the offering of a 50% discount for “care worker’s” permits orthe offering of free “care worker’s” permits. Discretionary permits would be valid for one year and reviewed annually.

In introducing the report and in the context of any possible introduction of charges for blue badge holders in car parks the Assistant Director (Customer and Support Services) advised that colleagues in the Adult and Community Services Department were in the process of developing a wide ranging report on blue badges and a further recommendation to the Portfolio Holder could comprise a request for the Adult and Community Portfolio Holder to address the charging issue in the wider context of blue badges.

The Chairman proposed that the Committee note recommendations 2.1 and 2.2 of the report. Concerning recommendation 2.3 the Chairman was of the view that the proposed charges for blue badge holders should not be introduced and that the Adult and Community Portfolio consider the issuing of blue badges; it was important that the badges were only issued to those fully qualifying for them. He also suggested reviewing the number of disabled parking bays in Council car parks and exploring the demand for the bays - including whether they should be reserved for blue badge parking only at specific times (outside of which the bays could be used for paid parking).

Councillor Payne was not supportive of charging blue badge holders. Instead he felt that enforcement should be looked at to consider how abuse of the blue badge system could be tackled. Councillor Grainger suggested consulting a wider set of motorists on charging. Councillor Bance supported the freeing up of disabled parking bays for all users during certain times of the day.

In not supporting charging, Councillor Samaris Huntington-Thresher felt that it could compromise on-street parking and there would be an expense in changing pay and display units. Referring to the fraudulent use of blue badges Councillor Wells referred to minutes of the Committee’s previous meeting and references therein to (the work of) Audit Sub Committee and he reminded Members that a report would come back to the Committee on the matter. Councillor Taylor asked that an urgent press release be issued: (i) to indicate a rejection of charging for blue badges in Council car parks; (ii) to advise that disabled parking spaces would be assessed for efficient use and (iii) to notify that action would be taken to deal with fraudsters. The Chairman offered to talk to the Portfolio Holder and the relevant Communications Officer. On wording for the action against fraudulent use of blue badges Councillor Wells also suggested consulting the Council’s Chief Internal Auditor.

Concerning parking for care workers, Councillor Grainger suggested that a single permit be issued for care workers looking after a number of clients in different controlled parking zones. The Assistant Director indicated that this was already the case for Council or NHS employed care workers but there was not the capacity to control a wide variety of organisations. The proposals for care workers focussed on rare cases that were (mostly) in controlled parking zone circumstances and when it was necessary to visit a client during a time of parking restriction. The Assistant Director indicated that the proposals were solely aimed at paid care workers attending a client for which there was a care package in place.

Councillor Payne enquired of the position with registered carers and Councillor Grainger felt that volunteer carers also needed help.

Councillor Samaris Huntington-Thresher proposed that care worker’s permits be offered free (for paid care workers as part of a Council care package). For other registered carers she felt that it was important for similar permit arrangements to be provided and requested a report on the subject. The Chairman agreed that a report was necessary on the position for more informal carers.

In concluding, Members voted on whether charging should apply to parking permits for care workers. With reference to the options at paragraph 4.5.3 of report ES11057, there was no support for option (i), making the same charge as applied to other residents; but for the options of either (ii) a 50% discount for care worker’s permits or (iii) provision of the permits at no cost, each option was equally supported by Members i.e. half of voting Members supported option (ii) and half supported option (iii).

RESOLVED that:

(1)  the Environment Portfolio Holder be recommended to -

·  note the withdrawal of the proposal to convert on-street time-limited parking bays to Pay & Display bays at the locations set out in section 4.2 of report ES11057;

·  note the withdrawal of proposals for on-street CCTV enforcement in Petts Wood; 

·  continue with the current arrangements of not charging blue badge holders for parking in Council off-street car parks;

• request that the Adult and Community Portfolio Holder consider the introduction of charges within a wider consideration of blue badge issues;

·  endorse the proposals for handling requests for assistance with care workers’ parking and to take account of the Committee’s views when deciding on charging for carer’s parking permits; and

(2)  a further report be provided to the Committee on whether parking permit arrangements could also be provided for registered and volunteer carers.