Mr Allen Herve (Contracts and Operations Manager) from Shared Parking Services will attend the meeting to provide an update on Parking Enforcement.
Minutes:
Mr Allen Hervé attended to provide the update relating to parking enforcement.
Mr Herve gave a brief introduction to the work of the Parking Enforcement Division and then provided the opportunity for attendees to ask questions.
LBB monitored the High Street with numerous patrols of CEOs (Civil Enforcement Officers) and issued PCNs as required for parking contraventions. The Parking Enforcement Team also dealt with queries and requests that came in via the online portal. If there was an enforcement request placed via the online portal, the contractors were expected to arrive at the scene within 45 minutes.
The number of PCNs issued in Beckenham High Street over the previous 12 months was 585; just 9% of these were related to foot way parking. The main culprit in terms of the issuing of PCNs was not paying high street parking levies. Another big offender was related to the incorrect use of Blue Badges. Enforcement was undertaken to keep the highway clear and to keep traffic moving. In terms of enforcement activity, the previous day there had been 16 visits to the High Street with teams comprising of 5 CEOs.
Jackie Groundsell asked if some bays could have a dual purpose and be split 50:50 between normal parking and loading. Appropriate signage would be required. Some felt that this was a good idea; others felt that dual use would be confusing. Stephen Oliver (Senior Project Planner) was in favour of the idea, and suggested that it could be trialled and not enforced during the trial period. Mr Herve responded that a trial was possible, and Ms Groundsell asked what the time frame for this would be. Mr Oliver stated that if the plan was agreed he would get the signs made. The signs would need to be as simple to understand as possible. Ms Groundsell felt that it was crucial to implement and carry forward this idea as soon as possible. An attendee who was also a business owner stated that the loading restrictions had destroyed her business.
Mr Munnelly responded that there was no overall loss of parking because of the scheme. A parking consultation had been undertaken with local businesses, and only one response had been received. Mr Munnelly stated that one option was to lose two standard parking spaces and replace them with a loading bay. The business owner referred to a large bus stop near to her business and asked if it could be shortened. The Chairman commented that it was very unlikely that TfL would agree to such a suggestion. She asked for a loading bay to be installed outside of Miso. Mr Munnelly responded that this would be contrary to the scheme objectives and so would need to be assessed by the Project Board. It was mentioned that there was a loading bay in Fairfield Road. However, this was not suitable for the type of goods being unloaded in this instance as the bay was on a gradient.
It seemed therefore that the trial of the 50:50 hybrid options would be the best solution. The business owner responded that this would still not be adequate as some of the orders for her business were delivered from Scotland, and so the delivery time was volatile.
The Group discussed the multi-storey car park at Sainsbury’s which was leased to the Council. It was noted that there were normally many spare parking spaces at the top. The Chairman asked Mr Herve if the Council was charging too much for the parking and Mr Herve responded that this was not the case. Mr Watkins suggested that more people should be encouraged to park in Sainsbury’s. Ms Berg responded that the car park was badly lit and spoilt by graffiti. Mr Herve informed the Group that a cleaning schedule was in place for the cleaning of the car parks.
The Chairman asked how complaints could be made about the car park if necessary. Mr Herve responded that the public should use the ‘Parking Services’ link on the Bromley Council website. He stated that the car park was patrolled.
Marie Pender requested that when the work was completed, could Beckenham have stronger parking enforcement in the evenings, particularly on Fridays and Saturdays. It was confirmed that enforcement after 7.30pm could be provided if required by the night time enforcement team. Mr Herve stated however, that there were certain areas where to undertake enforcement action late at night could be emotive and cause a risk to staff and so this had to be taken into account before enforcement action may be undertaken in these circumstances.
Chloe-Jane Ross asked what the policy was when delivery vehicles had no viable option other than to stop to deliver food and other goods where there was no loading facility available. She felt sorry for the delivery drivers/businesses in these circumstances as she expressed the view that they were effectively being forced to park illegally. Mr Herve responded that parking restrictions would still be enforced. Members noted that as a result of de-regulation, CCTV could no longer be used for parking enforcement.
The quickest and easiest way to request parking enforcement was to use the parking enforcement online form. This was submitted directly to LBB’s parking contractor who would be able to take action immediately.
If a person did not have internet access, that person could call the contact centre on 0300 303 8662 (option 5) and a representative would complete the online request on behalf of the caller. Outside of normal office hours, the number to call for assistance was call 020 8301 6317.
The Chairman requested that a resolution be passed concerning parking signs in the High Street. The recommendation was that ‘hybrid’ parking signs be installed in the High Street that would allow for loading in the morning and normal parking in the afternoon. The wording on the signs should be both legal and in plain English that was easy to understand. Examples could be provided to the next meeting. Mr Herve promised to supply appropriate wording and to send it to the Renewal Team for their information.
Helen McConnell from FM Conway expressed her thanks to Allen Herve for providing alternative residents’ parking for those residents that had required different parking provision when works were being undertaken.
RESOLVED that:
1) Wording would be drafted by the Parking Enforcement Division that could be used for new hybrid parking signs. These would combine both loading and normal parking options alternatively.
2) Subsequent to the wording being agreed, the new hybrid parking signs be installed and trialled.