Christchurch 2008-9

8/8/2019 Christchurch 2008-9

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/christchurch-2008-9 1/7

1 of 7

Civil Parking EnforcementAnnual Report 2008-09

1. Introduction:

1.1 Dorset County Council has been operating Civil Parking Enforcement across its six DistrictAreas since July 2002. Christchurch Borough Council and Weymouth & Portland BoroughCouncil manage on street parking on behalf of the County Council whilst Dorset County Councilis directly responsible for on street parking in East Dorset, North Dorset, Purbeck and WestDorset. In addition, Dorset County Council enforces parking regulations in off street car parkson behalf of North Dorset District Council, Purbeck District Council and Wareham Town Council.

1.2 The purpose of parking enforcement is to prevent obstructions in order to reduce trafficcongestion and improve the safety of all road users. It encourages compliance with the parkingregulations and allows effective management of the on-street parking stock. The number ofPenalty Charge Notices (PCNs) issued in Dorset has decreased in the last year. This decreasefollows national trend and is an indication of better compliance with the parking regulationsgenerally.

1.3 Dorset is a rural county which attracts many tourists to attractive towns and villages and toits coastline. Residents, businesses, shoppers, commuters and visitors have different parkingneeds and parking enforcement is required for the benefit of all road users. These needs arereviewed from time to time and some changes are implemented under new Traffic RegulationOrders (TROs) following consultation with the Police, Emergency Services, Elected Members,relevant District, Town and Parish Councils. Public consultation is carried out via notices in thepress and on street together with letter drops to local residents and/or businesses as

appropriate.

Dorset Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs)

2002 to 2009

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

16000

1

2002/03 (9 months)

2003/04

2004/05

2005/06

2006/0

2007/08

2008/09

1.4 The Parking Service is financed from penalty charges, permits and pay & display income.The objective is to achieve a self-financing service so that it is not a burden on the public pursewhilst maintaining the quality and efficiency of the parking operation and statutory appeals.



2 of 7

2. Parking Information:

2.1 Parking information is available to the public on the Council Website atwww.dorsetforyou.com/ with links to neighbouring Local Authorities, DVLA, the Traffic PenaltiesTribunal and the Department for Transport (DfT).

2.2 More information about parking regulations and what to do if one receives a PCN can befound at www.patrol-uk.info .

2.3 The Council email address for parking enquiries and appeals is parking @dorsetcc.gov.ukand the telephone number 01258 450 447. The Parking Office is open from 9 am to 5 pm,Monday to Friday, excluding Bank Holidays.

3. Enforcement:

3.1 Uniformed Civil Enforcement Officers or CEOs (formerly known as Traffic Wardens orParking Attendants) enforce the parking regulations as set out in the Traffic Management Act2004 (TMA) and the TROs. CEOs are City & Guilds qualified and carry out their duties as setout in the TMA statutory guidelines and instructions issued by the Council.

3.2 In 2008/09, 13,842 contraventions resulted in the issue of a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN).74 % of contraventions occurred On-Street, 26 % in car parks. In 2007/08, 14,909 PCNs wereissued, 71 % on street, 29 % in car parks.

3.3 The majority of contraventions are recorded in towns and tourist locations. Whilst CEOs visitrural areas, in most cases they will not observe any infringements to the parking regulations.Quite often, drivers will be in or near their vehicles and the CEOs will be able to move thevehicles on without having to issue a PCN.

PCNs issued in Dorset by District08/09

EDDC

NDDC

Purbeck

WDDC

PCNs issued in North Dorset 08/09

On-Street

Car Parks

PCNs issued in Purbeck 08/09

On-Street

Car Parks



3 of 7

4. Challenges, Representations and Appeals:

4.1 TMA sets out the statutory process for drivers and vehicle keepers to make representationsagainst the issue of a PCN and to appeal to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal in due course if initialchallenges and formal representations to the Council have not resulted in a satisfactoryconclusion. Legislation requires the Council to consider formal representations on statutorygrounds against the issue of a PCN, including mitigating circumstances.

4.2 Appeals Officers consider challenges and representations against PCNs according tocouncil guidelines. The Council does consider challenges at any time during the life of the PCN,including those received before the issue of a Notice to Owner and those received after aCharge Certificate has been served. If a challenge is received within 14 days from the issue ofthe PCN the period for payment of a Penalty Charge at the discounted rate will be automaticallyextended. All challenges and representations must be made in writing, either in person, by post,fax or via email, and should include supporting documentary evidence where applicable.

Appeals/Representations in Dorset

by District Area 08/09

EDDC

NDDC

Purbeck

WDDC

Appeals North Dorset 08/09

On-Street

Car Parks

Appeals Purbeck 08/09

On-Street

Car Parks

4.3 There is general misconception in the public mind that Civil Enforcement Officers (CEOs)are unfairly targeting drivers without good reason. Drivers also often feel aggrieved that CEOsdo not seem to accept their explanations and that they do not “take back” a ticket/PCN whichhas already been issued. Unfortunately, this view is often reinforced by the media. The reality isthat CEOs are carrying out their statutory duties as required under TMA and they do not havethe discretion to “take back” a PCN. The discretion rests with the appeals officers who aretrained to consider appeals and make decisions after considering all aspects of a particularcase.

4.4 In 2008/09, 1512 PCNs were cancelled following an appeal, approx 10% of all PCNs issued.14 % of cancellations were for statutory reasons (i.e. wrong location, incorrect or missingsignage or lines). 86 % were due to the exercise of Council Discretion on mitigatingcircumstances or due to evidence being supplied, such as proof of loading or breakdown.



4 of 7

5. Permitted Parking:

5.1 On Street Pay and Display:

In 2008/09, there were 2 Pay and Display Machines on street in Blandford: Market Place and

Sheep Market Hill (commissioned in January 2009) and 2 in Wareham: The Quay and St John’sHill/Church Green. Since then, the Council has installed 26 Pay and Display Machines on streetin Dorchester.

5.2 Permit Parking: The following permits have been issued.

Permit Parking 2007/08 2008/09 Explanatory Notes

5.2.1 Residents Permits 909 925Residents Permits are issued free ofcharge to residents who are Blue BadgeHolders.

5.2.2 Daily Visitors Vouchers 30,203 31,173Pensioners can purchase VisitorsVouchers at half price.

5.2.3 Waivers 393 322

Currently, the Council does not operatea Business Permit Scheme but specialwaivers can be issued to allowtradesmen to park where parking isrestricted if they need access to theirvehicles and tools whilst working at anadjacent property.

5.2.4 Health Permits 188 204

Health Permits are issued to Health

Workers so that they can park near theirpatient’s home to carry out their duties.

5.3 Parking for Blue Badge Holders:

5.3.1 There are designated disabled parking bays on street in many towns and villages. In mostcases, there is no time limit for Badge Holders in Disabled Bays but a few disabled bays aretime restricted. Badge Holders must display their Blue Badge and the Time Clock set at the timeof arrival.

5.3.2 Blue Badge Holders can also park on waiting restrictions (marked by a single or doubleyellow line) for a maximum of three hours. They are exempt from payment in on street pay anddisplay bays and residents bays where they can park without time limit unless there are signsindicating otherwise.

5.3.3 In off-street car parks, the terms and conditions relating to Blue Badge Holders are statedon the car park signs.



5 of 7

6. Operational Statistics:

PCN Statistics 2007/08 2008/09 Explanatory Notes

6.1 Higher Rate PCNs issued 9 7391Where parking is prohibited or restrictedsuch as on yellow lines, bus stops, taxiranks, disabled bays.

6.2 Lower Rate PCNs issued 14900 6451 Where parking is permitted butcontrolled (e.g. in car parks or pay anddisplay bays on street).

6.3 Total PCNs issued 14909 13842

6.4 PCNs paid at discount rate 10644 9931

50% of full rate and is accepted within14 days of PCN issue or when achallenge has been received during thesame 14 day period.

6.5 PCNs paid at full rate 851 765PCNs paid after expiry of the discountperiod.

6.6 Total PCNs paid 11495 10695

6.7 Total PCNs unpaid 3421 3315 PCNs still being progressed under thestatutory procedure.

6.8 PCNs registered as Debts 906 931

Where PCNs remain unpaid they areregistered as debts at NorthamptonCounty Court and eventually, warrantsmay be issued to bailiffs who pursue thedebts on behalf of the Council.

6.9Appeals/Representationsreceived

2773 2988Appeals include informal challenges andformal representations.

6.1O

PCNs cancelled through the

use of discretion or due toevidence being supplied

1328 1294

Where the Council has exerciseddiscretion on mitigating circumstancesor due to evidence being supplied, suchas proof of loading or breakdown etc.

6.11PCNs cancelled for statutoryreasons

196 218Statutory reasons include wronglocation, incorrect or missing signage orlines, etc.

6.12 Total PCNs cancelled 1524 1512

6.13 PCNs going to Adjudication 9 9Cases referred to the Traffic PenaltyTribunal for an independent decision.

6.14PCNs written off (untraceablekeepers)

559 257Vehicles not registered at DVLA, foreigndrivers, etc.

6.15 Vehicles clamped or removed 0 0

Dorset County Council does not operatevehicle clamping or removal but bailiffsmay do so to recover the debts onbehalf of the Council.

Dorset PCNs - Status 08/09

%PCNs cancel led or

written off

%PCNs paid

%PCNs where

recovery is still being

persued

Dorset - Cancellation Reasons

08/09

Stat utory Grounds

Council

Discretion/Mitigatin

g Circumstances



6 of 7

7. Operational and Financial Information:

7.1 Although the majority of parking restrictions apply during week days, there are numerousregulations requiring enforcement at night, at weekends and on Bank Holidays. The Dorset CivilEnforcement Area stretches from Lyme Regis and Bridport in the West to Ferndown and WestMoors in the East, Sherborne and Shaftesbury in the North to Wareham and Swanage in theIsle of Purbeck.

7.2 In 2008/09, the parking account did not break even mainly due to the cost of implementingTMA. Due to the slight drop in the annual number of PCNs issued and the introduction ofdifferential penalty charges there has been in a reduction of £48,285 in PCN income comparedto 2007/08.

7.3 TMA was introduced on 30 March 2008 to deal with illegally parked cars more effectively.Whilst previously all penalties attracted a charge £60 regardless of the severity of theinfringement, with TMA PCNs issued for contraventions such as parking on a double yellow linewhich causes congestion or possible danger attract a higher charge of £70 (discounted to £35on prompt payment) whereas a lesser contravention such as overstaying a parking time periodis at the lower charge of £50 (discounted to £25 on prompt payment). These differential penaltycharges are fairer that the previous uniform charge but they have resulted in a reduction of theincome needed to fund the enforcement.

Dorset County Council - CPE

Income 2008/09

Pay & Display

PCNs

Permit s, Fees etc .

Dorset County Council - CPE

Expenditure 2008/09

Employees

Premises & Transport

Misc Supplies &

Services

Internal Recharges

PCN Payments by Distr ict Area

08/09

EDDC

NDDC

Purbeck

WDDC



7 of 7

7.4 Parking Account

Dorset County Council Parking Account 2008/092007/08 figures included forcomparison

Income Expenditure

2007/08 2008/09 2007/08 2008/09

Pay &

Display £58,881 £88,425 Employees £438,592 £436,906

PCNs £446,006 £397,721

Premises &TransportRelatedExpenses

£55,661 £55,480

ResidentsPermits

£47,750 £47,355MiscellaneousSupplies &Services

£60,439 £82,122

Visitors

Vouchers £6,275 £5,195

Rechargesfrom other

directoratesincludingDorset Direct

£12,797 £29,802

Waivers £7,815 £7,637

Fees &Charges

£6,143 £4,140

Total £572,870 £550,473 Total £567,489 £604,310

-£5,381 £53,837

-£5,40008/09 budget c/ffrom 07/08

£48,437 08/09 deficit

8. Conclusion

Dorset County Council is committed to improving the quality of life for people in Dorset.Management of parking places and enforcement of the parking regulations are essential tools to

control traffic congestion, promote road safety and provide for the different needs of residents,retailers, shoppers and visitors. Enforcement is often seen as a revenue raiser by the public butin reality, it is in place for the benefit of all road users. The Council aims to achieve its objectivesby providing a quality service without putting financial pressure on the public purse. Proceduresare regularly reviewed in order to achieve efficiency savings but the cost of implementing TMAhas had a detrimental effect on the parking account. The recent introduction of Pay and Displayon street in Dorchester will provide additional funding to meet the needs of the service and,should there be any future surplus, it will be used to provide additional parking/traffic relatedfacilities for the County.

Christchurch 2008-9

Documents

Transcript of Christchurch 2008-9