Decriminalised Parking Enforcement

Decriminalised Parking Enforcement‘Delivery Progress Report’

Transportation & Asset Management

Environment & Regeneration Scrutiny Committee

27 June 2007

Decriminalised Parking EnforcementProgress Delivery Report

Delivering DPE

Executive Board (13 February 2007) Implementation - 01 March 2008 In-House Enforcement Team Regional Notice Processing - Wales Penalty Processing Partnership (WPPP).

RTA Associates Ltd - Appointed Consultants Project DeliveryTraffic Regulation Order Review

Officer Steering Group established comprising: - Traffic & Safety - Legal - Car Parks - North Wales Police - Finance & Performance - Wales Penalty Processing Partnership - Information Technology - RTA Associates - Communications - Members


Officer Steering Group

Group’s functions are being co-ordinated by RTA Associates Ltd and broadly involve the following processes:

Preparation of Draft / Formal SPA Application

Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) Review

IT Systems Procurement and Implementation

Consultation Strategy

Setting up a DPE Enforcement Team

Staff Procedures Manual & Enforcement Regime


Preparation of Draft/Formal SPA Application

Draft SPA Application submitted to WAG

WAG Response Formal Application Processing Time

- 5 Months Required

Enforcement Exemptions

- High speed / standard A483/A5

National Parking Adjudication Service (NPAS)

- Instructed to join the Adjudication Service and nominate independent hearing locations.

Traffic Management Act 2004 (Part 6 – Civil Parking Enforcement)

- Timetable for introduction – Spring 2008?

Formal Application to be submitted in August 2007


TRO Review (Delivered in Two Phases)

Phase 1 – Accuracy Check

Essential that this phase of the TRO review is complete prior to DPE implementation date.

Phase one of the TRO Review process can not include or facilitate wholesale changes to these orders.

Phase 2 – Appropriateness Check

To be undertaken following the successful introduction of DPE.

To ensure that all parking related TRO’s in the County Borough are relevant and serve their intended purpose.

This exercise will facilitate the creation of new TRO’s and where appropriate modifications to existing.


TRO Review (Continued)

Phase 1 – Accuracy Check (Currently on-track and within budget)

ITEM TASK STATUS

1 Catalogue of all existing TRO’s transferred to specialist software package

Complete

2 Site surveys of all ‘parking’ related TRO’s Underway

3 A series of necessary amendment orders to conform to the change in legislation i.e. 1984 Road Traffic Regulation Act to Road Traffic Act 1991

Underway

4 Comparison of site survey to TRO catalogue Following Completion of Item 3

5 Remedial works to site Following Completion of Item 4

6 Amendment and consolidation of final TRO to tie in with implementation date i.e. 01 March 2008

Following completion of items 1-5


IT Systems Procurement & Implementation

The benefits of regional collaboration for Wrexham are that the detailed work involved in setting up the systems at WPPP have already been undertaken for both Gwynedd and Anglesey e.g.

The IT operating systems and procedure manuals have been in operation for some time and appear to be working satisfactorily.

Relatively straight forward process for Wrexham to join the partnership.

- Replicating existing systems and tailoring them to Wrexham’s requirements.

Economies of scale through procurement via WPPP

Expressions of interest from potential new partners e.g. Flintshire & Powys will enhance further the savings through regional collaboration.

Wrexham’s IT Officer is working closely with RTA and the WPPP to ensure Wrexham’s in-house IT operations are compatible with the requirements of the WPPP.


Consultation Strategy

The guidance on DPE states that there is no legal requirement for consultation in relation to an application for DPE. However it is considered best practice and experience from elsewhere indicates that a public information exercise results in:

“ A better understanding and appreciation of what the Authority is trying

to achieve and therefore greater compliance with parking controls ”

In conjunction with the Council’s communications officer, a comprehensive information strategy is being prepared. This will include:- Press Releases (Local/Regional Newspapers/Radio)- Leaflet drop to all households in the County borough- Council’s Digital TV & Internet - Connect Magazine

Publicity campaign programmed for Jan/Feb 2008.


Setting Up DPE Enforcement Team

The majority of the work associated with the setting up of the DPE Enforcement Team has been programmed towards the end of the year (Nov/Dec). This broadly involves the following:

Identifying accommodation (Parking attendants) Developing an Enforcement Strategy (Define beats, etc) Recruitment & Training Requirements (Parking Attendants x 2) Equipment Procurement (e.g. transport, uniforms, phones etc)

Officers have been proactive in this area and are in the process of: Identifying suitable accommodation for Parking Attendants (PA’s) Developing an enforcement regime for the County Borough using

information obtained over the last 14 months from the PCSO Developing a job profile to be used in the recruitment of PA’s Identifying options for the joint procurement of equipment

through the WPPP.


Staff Procedures Manual The following have been programmed and will be considered

towards the end of this year.

Debt Recovery (unpaid PCN’s) Dispensations (e.g. street works, building works etc) Appeals Process (required to join NPAS)

- Officers have been looking at suitable independent premises for NPAS appeals to be heard in Wrexham. Ultimately the decision is made by NPAS officials. The following locations have been identified and nominated to NPAS. - Ramada Hotel - North East Wales Institute (NEWI)

Other Business

Regional Collaboration (WPPP) Draft Service Level Agreement has been prepared. Establishment of a board under discussion (separate to Taith Board)


Further Report

24 October 2007 (Provisional)

Update on steering group’s actions

Any developments relating to the proposed introduction of Part 6 of the Traffic Management Act in Wales.

Regional Collaboration (WPPP)

- Constitutional Arrangements

- Service Level Agreements

Documents

Decriminalised Parking Enforcement