southampton annual parking report 2008_tcm46-236996

8/8/2019 Southampton Annual Parking Report 2008_tcm46-236996

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Annual Parking and Enforcement Report 2007/2008 FOREWORD

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Annual Parking and Enforcement Report 2007/2008 FOREWORD

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ForewordI am very pleased to present Southampton’s first Annual Parking and Enforcement

Report .

The Administration set out its agreed parking policy in March 2008. From this we will be

responsible for delivering on a number of the policy commitments including: offering a fair

deal on parking for residents; improving our environment – globally and locally; involving

residents in key decisions and protecting their interest; making our street environment

more attractive; and improving local transport.

We want to make Southampton a city of opportunity and transport has a key role to play in

delivering that aspiration. Our work will focus on delivering a sustainable Southampton which

manages its growth; provides a strong economy; which is safe, inclusive and vibrant.

This report focuses on what we have done in the sometimes controversial area of parking. We will

increase transparency by publishing this parking report annually and continue to makeimprovements to the parking regime by promoting fairness for residents, businesses and visitors.

I am committed to ensuring that the Administration’s aspiration of making Southampton a

more listening Council is at the heart of what we do. We need to make sure we treat and

communicate with people professionally and in a caring manner. We pride ourselves on the

tone of our correspondence and our responsiveness, which in turn has delivered results on

the ground. We have also implemented a number of changes that have embedded this

commitment to listening. We have introduced additional residents parking bays in Coxford,

Bassett, Highfield and Hampton Park where residents were asking for them. The First

Controlled Zone and both the Suburban and City Centre Off Street Car Park parking orderswere reviewed and updated. We have introduced credit and debit card facilities’ to pay &

display machines and also to all our payment machines in our multi-storey car parks. In a

number of our car parks and on street locations we have extended the time limits after

requests from local businesses, along with appropriate tariffs for the area. In parking, as well

as other areas, I firmly believe the Council does not have a monopoly on good ideas.

We also want to make Southampton a better place to do business in. We are continuing

to refurbish our five City Centre multi-storey car parks, spending some £3.9 million since

2002. All have the Park Mark award with only a very small number of vehicle related

crimes taking place over the last 10 years; in fact no vehicles have been stolen from

these car parks since major improvements took place in 1997 and 1998.

A lot has changed in parking over the last few years and I hope residents and businesses

are feeling the benefits. There is still work to be done, but these achievements should

mean that there are firm foundations to build on.

Councillor Matthew Dean

Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport



Annual Parking and Enforcement Report 2007/2008 CONTENTS

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Contents

1 Introduction 4

2 Overview 6

3 General Information 9

4 Improvements 10

5 Customer Surveys 12

6 Financial and Statistical Information 13

7 Glossary 26



Annual Parking and Enforcement Report 2007/2008 INTRODUCTION

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1 Introduction

1.1 This is Southampton’s first annual parking report - all local authorities arerequired to produce a report under the Traffic Management Act 2004. Part

6 of the Act was introduced on 31 March 2008 and while a report underthis Act is not needed until 2009, it is considered best practice to do so andwill set the scene for what will be required to be provided in the future.

1.2 The provision and management of parking is one of the most importantfunctions undertaken by the City Council. Issues around parking are thesubject of intense public interest from the scale of public provision tosupporting the economic activity, to the desire of a resident to park in thestreet near their home. The City Council has a pivotal role in the provision,management, regulation and distribution of parking. This report sets out

the parking and related activities undertaken by the City Council in 2007-8.

1.3 The City Council has the responsibility for the control, enforcement andpolicy for parking in the City and provides:

• On Street Parking

• Off Street Parking – City Council car parks

• Residents Parking

• Removal of Abandoned Vehicles

1.4 Under the Traffic Management Act legislation, decriminalised enforcementhas been changed to civil enforcement to reflect the wider role that localauthorises will now undertake, which will included moving trafficcontraventions. It is anticipated that legislation to enforce bus lane andtraffic signs will be enacted within the next 12 to 18 months. Governmenthas yet to consult on the regulations that are required.

1.5 The new legislation from 31 March 2008 has changed the name of theenforcement officers from Parking Attendants to Civil Enforcement Officers

(CEO’s); this is to reflect the wider enforcement role that they will berequired to undertake in the future.

1.6 Changes have also included the ability to issue Penalty Charge Noticesthrough the post, to the owners of vehicles where the CEO, once the issueof the notice had commenced, was prevented from serving the notice.

1.7 One of the key changes was the introduction of differential penaltycharges, to reflect the severity of the contravention. Up until 30 March2008 all contraventions committed in Southampton attracted a £60penalty, discounted to £30 if paid within 14 days. The new penalty chargevalues are £70, discounted to £35 for the higher value contraventions and£50, discounted to £25 for the lower value contraventions. The values set



Annual Parking and Enforcement Report 2007/2008 INTRODUCTION

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have been imposed on local authorities outside London by Governmentand in some cases are now lower than what they were 8 years ago.

1.8 One of the requirements of the TMA 2004 was the need to publish aparking policy; Southampton has consulted widely on its policy which was

approved by Cabinet earlier this year and published on the council’s City Web site.http://www.southampton.gov.uk/Images/PARKING%20POLICY_tcm46-200770.pdf

1.9 This report will now be published annually to provide information,performance and enable members of the public to have a transparentrecord of parking activities.



Annual Parking and Enforcement Report 2007/2008 OVERVIEW

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2 Overview

2.1 The City Council provides the following services:

2.2 A civil parking enforcement service throughout the city.

2.2.1 This includes the enforcement of parking restrictions both on street andin council controlled car parks.

2.2.2 Civil Enforcement Officers also issue notices to abandoned vehicles andreport untaxed vehicles.

2.2.3 Assist partners in the eviction of travellers from applicable car parks.

2.3 Representations against the Issue of Penalty Charge Notices.

2.3.1 Answering appeals at both the informal and formal stage from membersof the public.

2.3.2 Presentation of cases to the independent adjudication service, ThePenalty Tribunal.

2.3.3 Initiating recovery action of unpaid Penalty Charge Notices through theTraffic Enforcement court at Northampton.

2.3.4 Instructing bailiffs to recover debts after obtaining warrants of execution.

2.4 Maintaining off street car parks.

2.4.1 Including five City Centre multi-storeys and one roof top car park.

2.4.2 Fifty nine surface car parks, mainly in the City Centre with a number indistrict centres across the City.

2.5 Maintaining parking payment machines.

2.5.1 Two hundred and two on street pay and display ticket machines.

2.5.2 Eighty five pay and display ticket machines in off street car parks.

2.5.3 Four sets of pay-on-foot parking equipment in multi-storey car parks inthe City Centre.

2.5.4 Introducing new parking charges.

2.5.5 Installing and removing parking equipment.

2.6 Maintaining Closed Circuit Television Equipment

2.6.1 This consists of 280 CCTV cameras in car parks and in the public realm.




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2.6.2 Monitors, video recorders and other associated control room equipment.

2.6.3 Transmission equipment for sending CCTV images across the City.

2.7 Provision of Parking Permits.

2.7.1 Residents and visitor parking permits in resident’s zones.

2.7.2 Business and temporary business parking permits in resident’s zones.

2.7.3 Suspended bay parking permits in pay and display bays.

2.7.4 Medical and essential visitor parking permits.

2.7.5 Waiver certificates.

2.8 Maintaining parking restrictions throughout the City.

2.8.1 Replacing worn or missing parking signs.

2.8.2 Renewing yellow lines and parking bay markings.

2.9 Managing the abandoned vehicle contract.

2.9.1 Liaising with other internal sections dealing with abandoned vehicles.

2.9.2 Administering the abandoned vehicle contract.

2.9.3 Liaising with the removal contractor.

2.10 Season tickets and stored value cards.

2.10.1 Purchase of season tickets and stored value cards for off street carparks.

2.11 Disabled persons parking bays.

2.11.1 Administration of the eligibility for a disabled person’s bay.

2.11.2 The installation and removal of disabled persons parking baysthroughout the City.

2.12 The introduction of new parking restrictions and removal of existing ones.

2.12.1 New residents parking zones.

2.12.2 Amendments to existing resident’s zones.

2.12.3 Introduction of new waiting restrictions.




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2.12.4 Amendments to existing waiting restrictions.

2.13 Investigating parking related fraud.

2.13.1 The misuse of pay and display tickets.

2.13.2 Disabled person’s badges.

2.13.3 Residents permits and visitor permits.

2.13.4 Supplying false information to obtain permits.

2.13.5 Supplying false information in appeals against the issue of penaltycharge notices.

2.13.6 Supplying false information in statutory declarations connected withcounty court warrants for unpaid notices.

2.13.7 Conducting interviews under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act.

2.13.8 Working with Trading Standards and Legal Services to prepare casesfor prosecution.

2.14 Providing information on the Council’s web pages.

2.14.1 Abandoned vehicle information.

2.14.2 Residents parking information.

2.14.3 Parking charges.

2.14.4 Parking policy.

2.14.5 Car park locations.

2.14.6 Information on how to appeal against the issue of a Penalty Charge

Notice.

2.14.7 How to pay Penalty Charges.

2.14.8 General information on Civil Parking Enforcement.



Annual Parking and Enforcement Report 2007/2008 GENERAL INFORMATION

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3 General Information

3.1 Enforcement of the parking regulations is achieved by officers patrollingdedicated beats, areas of the City are visited according to compliancerequirements. From time to time requests are received from a variety of

sources for immediate enforcement and for a number of different reasons.(This includes a number of schools that have parking problems during theschool run).

3.2 A call centre and one stop shop are now in place and are operated by theCouncil’s external partner as the first point of contact for customerswishing to obtain permits or with parking related enquiries.

3.3 The issue of parking fraud continues with a dedicated officer working withthe enforcement section, blue badge unit, trading standards and the CityCouncil’s legal section. Prosecutions take place for the misuse of disabled

persons badges, altering pay and display tickets and supplying falseinformation. Investigations continue to take place into the misuse ofresident’s permits and visitor permits.

3.4 A number of high profile checks have taken place at disabled person’sbays in the City Centre, with police support; this has resulted in a numberof Penalty Charge Notices being issued for misuse, seizure of badges,interviews and cautions issued.

3.5 Training of enforcement, representation and technical staff has continued,concentrating on the requirements for the introduction of Part 6 of TheTraffic Management Act 2004. A continuing issue is the abuse that CivilEnforcement Officers receive, while receiving a parking notice is not anenjoyable experience, threats of violence, verbal abuse and racialcomments are unacceptable. The continuing support of Hampshire policewhen dealing with these incidents is most welcome. On at least twooccasions this has resulted in imprisonment for the offenders.

3.6 During the last 18 months both credit and debit card payments have beenavailable on all pay and display ticket machines across the City. Thisinnovation was introduced as a result of a number of incentives, including

reducing the amount of cash held within the machines, giving motoristsmore payment options and responding to complaints that the ticketmachines do not give change, resulting in customers overpaying. Sincethe introduction usage has increased to around 36% of all transactionscompleted this way in car parks, while the usage averages around 12% onstreet.



Annual Parking and Enforcement Report 2007/2008 IMPROVEMENTS

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4 Improvements Completed in 2007/08 and Scheduled for 2008/09

4.1 Introduction of Replacement Pay on Foot Parking Equipment in multi-storey car parks. This included introducing payment by credit/debit card,stored value cards and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR).

4.2 Approval by Council to introduce Immobilisation and Towing away ofvehicles in connection with parking enforcement.

4.3 The refurbishment of lifts at Lime Street roof top car park. 4.4 Completion of the renewal of posts and signs in Newtown/Nicholstownresidents parking zone. 4.5 Completed customer satisfaction survey for Abandoned Vehicles. 4.6 Renewed the bailiff contract.

. 4.7 Commenced the preparation for the introduction of Civil Parking

Enforcement. 4.8 Carried out high profile parking enforcement across 40 roads in the City. 4.9 Reviewed and amended the following traffic regulation orders:



Annual Parking and Enforcement Report 2007/2008 IMPROVEMENTS

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(i) The City of Southampton (First Controlled Zone) TrafficRegulation Order.

(ii) The City of Southampton (Coxford Area) ResidentsParking Scheme.

(iii) The City of Southampton (Golden Grove and Bevois

Town) Residents Parking Scheme.(iv) Amendments 6 and 7 to The City of Southampton

(Bassett, Highfield and Hampton Park) Residents ParkingScheme.

(v) The City of Southampton (Off Street Parking Places)Consolidation Order.

(vi) The (Northam, Bitterne Manor and Itchen) ResidentsParking Scheme.

(vii) The City of Southampton (Suburban Off Street ParkingPlaces) Traffic Regulation Order.

(viii) Amendments 4C, 5A, 5B and 6 to The City of

Southampton (Various Roads) (Prohibition andRestriction of Waiting) Traffic Regulation Order.

4.10 Improvements Scheduled for 2008/09.

4.10.1 To continue with the multi-storey maintenance programme with therefurbishment of Eastgate Street Multi-Storey Car Park.

4.10.2 Introduction of Civil Parking Enforcement.

4.10.3 Introduction of Towing Away and Immobilisation of Vehicles.

4.10.4 Produce a Report to Cabinet in line with Part 6 of the TrafficManagement Act 2004.

4.10.5 Review of posts and signs in Resident Parking Zone 5 - Bevois Town.

4.10.6 Produce action plan from customer satisfaction survey from on-streetsurvey conducted in 2008/9.

4.10.7 Review the present parking restrictions in Newtown/Nicholstown and

Woolston residents parking zones.



Annual Parking and Enforcement Report 2007/2008 CUSTOMER SURVEYS

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5 Customer Surveys

5.1 Residents Parking - Completed 2005/06 - Information and improvement planapproved and implemented.

For a summary of the survey go to:http://www.southampton.gov.uk/thecouncil/thecity/research/marketresearchresults/residentsparking.asp#0

5.2 On Street Parking - Scheduled for 2008/09.

5.3 Off Street Parking - Completed 2006/07 - Information and improvement planapproved and implemented.

For a summary of the survey go to:http://www.southampton.gov.uk/thecouncil/thecity/research/marketresearchresults/carpark.asp#0

5.4 Abandoned Vehicles - Completed 2007/08 - No furtheraction required.

For a summary of the survey go to:http://www.southampton.gov.uk/thecouncil/thecity/research/marketresearchresults/abandonedvehiclessurvey.asp#0



Annual Parking and Enforcement Report 2007/2008 FINANCIAL & STATISTICS

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6 Financial and Statistical Information

6.1 Under section 55 of The Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, as amendedby The Traffic Management Act 2004 all English authorities must keep anaccount of all parking income and expenditure in designated (on street)

parking spaces which are in a Civil Enforcement Area and of their incomeand expenditure related to their functions as an enforcement authority.

6.2 Regulations and Guidance confirm that in respect of off street parkingplaces (car parks) the term “income and expenditure as enforcementauthorities” includes that related to Penalty Charge Income. It does not, forexample, cover pay and display income or permit/season ticket income orthe direct income/expenditure to collect that income; however forcompleteness this information has been included.

6.3 Likewise the abandoned vehicle account has also been included. A large

improvement in the deficit of this statutory service was achieved byincluding the staff cost in the on street account and a large reduction in thenumber of vehicles abandoned. This was as a result of the increase in thescrap metal value of vehicles.

6.4 Of particular interest is that guidance now includes a new requirement thatthe financial statements should provide details of the benefits that can beexpected as a result of the proposed use of any parking surplus.

6.5 It is recommended that, for comparative purposes, the published accountsshould show information for the previous year as well as the current yearand comment on any significant changes.




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6.6 On Street Account including Residents Parking 2007/08 and the staffingcost for abandoned vehicles.

2007/08 2006/07On Street £ £

IncomePay and Display TicketMachines

(2,243,012.04) (1,924,496.83)

Residents Permits (37,497.42) (35,660.50)Business Permits (12,808.00) (12,107.50)Suspended Bays (71,908.36) (51,478.39)Other Income (4,633.65) 1,586.92Penalty Charge Notices (1,225,278.60) (1,219,076.94)Recharge Income (899,280.51) (2,701,108.77)

Total Income (4,494,418.58) (5,942,342.01)

ExpenditureEmployee Costs 1,736,084.15 1,650,777.55Council InternalRecharges

959,310.49 2,443,369.15

Premises Costs 6,459.72 9,712.34Supplies and Services 449,501.99 359,938.08Transport Costs 77,452.50 76,471.45Lines and SignsRenewals and newinstallations, including

residents zones

57,958.32 57,473.29

Disabled persons baysInstallation and removal 19,900.00 19,900.00

Traffic Penalty Tribunal(Adjudication Service)

35,279.50 29,288.20

Traffic EnforcementCourt (Northampton)

30,000 50,000

Total Expenditure 3,371,946.97 4,696,930.06

Surplus/Deficit (1,122,471.91) (1,245,411.95)




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6.7 Off Street Account

2007/08 2006/07Off Street £ £Income

Car Parks (4,645,985.35) (3,926,345.96)Season Tickets (713,210.81) (774,266.43)Staff Parking (475,741.19) (448,002.25)Suspended Bays (57,606.41) (12,712.32)Other Income (86,348.20) (342,956.06)Penalty Charge Notices (295,915.38) (248,281.75)Total Income (6,274,807.34) (5,752,564.77)

ExpenditureCouncil Internal

Recharges

1,348,279.03 1,263,164.07

Capital Financing 1,497,200.00 1,497,200.00Car Park Maintenance 149,114.83 278,335.92Electrical/Rent/ Ratesand Water Charges

839,157.30 776,599.14

Supplies and Services 159,433.40 65,799.30Total Expenditure 3,993,184.56 3,881,098.43

Surplus/Deficit (2,281,622.78) (1,871,466.34)

6.8sAbandoned Vehicles Account

2007/08 2006/07£ £

Expenditure 39,264.97 153,396.43Income (24,775.00) (22,540.85)Surplus/Deficit 14,489.97 130,855.58

6.9 Use of On Street Surplus in 2007/08

2007/08

Funding for Revenue Services £Staffing for CCTV Control Room 56,000

Maintenance for Off Street Car Parks 81,000Public Transport 563,000

Funding for Capital SchemesWeston Shore Car Park Improvements 5,000

Car Park Lighting Improvements 67,000Multi-Storey Car Parks Refurbishment Programme 188,000

Total 960,000




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6.10 Top Ten Locations for Contraventions and Penalty Charge NoticesIssued.

2007/8 - LocationPCN’sIssued

WEST PARK ROAD MSCP 1035East Street 955

THE QUAYS NORTH Car Park 924

Milton Road 905

BEDFORD PLACE Car Park 873

Park Walk 865

COLLEGE STREET Car Park 697

High Street 692

Bedford Place 676

Queensway 657

6.11 Performance Indicators

6.11.1 A number of service indicators have been collected since theenforcement of parking was decriminalised in Southampton in February2002. Parking Services has been accredited to quality performancestandard ISO9001:2000 and has in place a number of key performanceindicators which are monitored to seek continual improvement.

Key indicators ImprovementTargets

Actual

2005/06

Actual

2006/07

Actual

2007/08

2008/09 2009/10

KPI 198% of reportedabandonedvehiclesinvestigated within24 hours.

98.7% 98% 95% 98%

KPI 265% of reportedabandonedvehicles removedwithin 24 hours.

65% 84% 66% N/A N/A

KPI 266% of reportedabandonedvehicles removedwithin 48 hours.

N/A N/A N/A 66%




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Improvement Targets

ServiceIndicators

Actual2005/06

Actual2006/07

Actual2007/08

2008/09 2009/10

KPI 3

Achieve 100%patrol by ParkingAttendants ofassigned beatsduring 2008/09.

88.5% 86.2% 94.3% N/A N/A

KPI 3

Achieve 100%patrol by CivilEnforcementOfficers of

assigned beatsduring 2008/09.

N/A N/A N/A 100% 100%

KPI 4Achieve 70%payment of allPenalty ChargeNotices issuedduring 2008/09.

54,894NoticesIssued64%



70% 70%

KPI 5

Effect 90%repairs to on/off

street ticketmachines within30 minutes and98.1% of all faultswithin 1 hourduring 2008/09.

1717reported

faults ofwhich94.9%

repairedwithin 30minutes

and98.9%

within 1hour

2323reported

faults ofwhich89.2%


and96.8%within 1

hour

1337reported

faults ofwhich82%


and89.4%within 1

hour

90%within 30minutes

and98.1%

within 1hour

90%within 30minutes

and98.1%

within 1hour




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KPI 6

Effect 85%repairs to Pay onFoot parkingequipment within30 minutes and

97.1% with 1 hourduring 2008/09.

1564reportedfaults ofwhich89.3%


and97.8%

within 1hour



and97.4%within 1

hour



and98.4%within 1

hour

85%within 30

minutesand

97.1%within 1

hour

85%within 30

minutesand

97.1%within 1

hour

KPI 7

Respond to 65%of informal andformal challenges

to Penalty ChargeNotices within 15working daysduring 2008/09.

50.2%

of7,869

84.2%

of14,298

14%

of16,084

N/A N/A

KPI 7

Respond to allinformalchallenges within10 days and allformal challenges

within 40 days toPenalty ChargeNotices during2008/09.

N/A N/A N/A 100% 100%

KPI 8

85% of telephonecalls to beanswered within20 seconds – figures are forexternal calls only

up to October2007.

39,149

69.8%within 10seconds

66,783

90.9%within 20seconds

Changedto Call

Centre inOctober

2007

CallCentre inOperation

CallCentre inOperation

KPI 9

Reduction inerrors by CivilEnforcementOfficers whenissuing PenaltyCharge Noticesby 3%.

N/A N/A

315notices

cancelleddue toofficererror

3% 2%




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KPI 10

Repair 60% of allClosed CircuitCameras faultswithin 8 hours,75% with 24

hours 95% within72 hours during2008/09.


repairedwithin 8hours,69.6%

within 24hours and

97.1%within 72

hours


repairedwithin 8hours,77.2%

within 24hours and

96%within 72

hours


repairedwithin 8hours,65%

within 24hours and

89%within 72

hours

60%within 8hours,

75%within 24hours and

95%within 72

hours

60%within 8hours,

75%within 24hours and

95%within 72

hours

6.11.2 The majority of these indicators show that performance is near to orabove the indicator target. A number require further comment:

• KPI 2 has been extended from 24 to 48 hours to allow the contractor tomeet this requirement and reflects the large drop in abandonedvehicles.

• KPI 4 has met the 70% recovery target and needs to be maintainedbefore any review.

• The large drop in KPI 7 was due to an increase in appeals, the teamdealing with appeals being subject to the new partnershiparrangements and the non delivery of an automated telephonepayment system. At the end of the year – 2007/08, the time taken toreply to appeals had been brought down to an average of three days.The new times indicated in the new KPI 7 are required by theintroduction of Part 6 of The Traffic Management Act 2004 on 31March 2008.

• KPI 9 is a new indicator to monitor the performance of Civil

Enforcement Officers when issuing notices.




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6.12 Penalty Charge Notice Information

Overview 2006/7 2007/8

Number of Penalty Charge Notices issued 55,454 56,179

Number of Notice to Owners issued 6,604 16,856Percentage of payments made at the reduced rate 52.4% 53.8%

Percentage of payments made at the full rate 8.7% 9.7%

Percentage of payments made after a ChargeCertificate is issued

5.0% 3.7%

Percentage of PCNs where informalrepresentations are made

30.6% 30%

Percentage of PCNs where formal representationsare made

2.9% 16.2%

Number of PCNs taken to County Court 5,886 5,358

6.13 Penalty Charge Notice Appeals and Representations

Back Office

Cancellations/ Representations viewed as atotal

2006/7 2007/8

Percentage of PCNs cancelled at any stage (PCNscancelled after any type of representation is

received etc)

18.5% 15.9%

Percentage of PCNs written off (e.g. unable to traceowner, bailiff unable to collect debt, DVLA have norecord of owner etc)

11.4% 3.4%

Percentage of PCNs that the Council cancelledbecause it agreed the appellant wasn’t liable, ordecided it couldn't discharge the burden of provingliability. (PCNs cancelled because additionalevidence was received proving that an exemptactivity was taking place, the driver was given thebenefit of any doubt, a problem with lines or signs

etc)

1.4% 1.1%

Percentage of PCNs cancelled as a result of theCouncil exercising discretion (mitigatingcircumstances etc)

11.5% 11.2%

Percentage of PCNs cancelled because they wereissued in error (I.e. the Parking Attendant, now CivilEnforcement Officer made a mistake)

0.68% 0.63%

Percentage of PCNs that go to appeal(representations made after NTO is issued that arerejected and the driver/keeper appeals to NPAS

now TPT)

0.3% 0.3%




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Percentage of PCNs where an appeal is allowed(I.e. NPAS now TPT decide in favour of thedriver/keeper)

0.11% 0.01%

Percentage of PCNs where an appeal is dismissed(I.e. NPAS now TPT decided in favour of the

Council)

0.1% 0.1%

6.14 Enforcement Requests

6.14.1The chart below records the calls that were made for enforcement actionfrom a variety of sources in 2007/08. The total number of calls receivedwas 567.

Who Makes Enforcement Requests

4%

74%

3%

13%

6%

Police

General Public

Councillor

Council Staff

Others

6.14.2

This chart records the alleged contravention that was taking place andother information.




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42%

2%

1% 5%

2%

15%

2%

1%

30%

Vehicle

ContraventionsPolice Responsibility

Road lineage/plates

Permits/permit bays

Vehicle broken down

Disabled bays

School parking

6.15 Parking Fraud

6.15.1 Since July 2007 a dedicated officer has been appointed to deal withparking fraud. This includes the misuse of disabled person’s badges – commonly known as blue badges – residents parking permits,fraudulent appeals against the issue of penalty notices and forgery of

parking documents.

6.15.2 Attention has been paid to disabled persons badges first; civilenforcement officers have the power to inspect blue badges to makesure that the badge is being correctly used. A number of new initiativeshave been introduced locally, these have included a list of badgeholders who are deceased and the badges have not been returned,badges that have been lost, lost in the post or reported stolen. Theseare now available to officers on an updated monthly basis. Officers canrequest a check of a badge when on patrol; however that only appliesto those issued in Southampton. Checks can be made with other

issuing authorities by phone. At the present time there is no nationaldatabase to access, so those badges that are issued outsideSouthampton cannot be instantly checked.

6.15.3 The misuse of a disabled persons badge falls into a number of areas;

• Copied or altered badges;

• The badge is used without the badge holder being present.




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Evidence needs to be gathered to prove the badge holder is notpresent when the vehicle is parked or when the vehicle is about to bedriven away.

6.15.4 Three high profile checks have been undertaken in connection with the

police, these have resulted in a number of people being caught formisuse, the badge holder not being present when the vehicle wasparked. Penalty Notices were issued, the badge holders written to,interviews undertaken and cautions given by Southampton CityCouncil.

6.15.5 A number of copied, altered and deceased badges have beenrecovered, while the policy is to review each case that comes to light todecide what action should be taken, it is more likely that those whohave used a deceased persons badge, have misused a badge over aperiod of time or fail to cooperate in investigations will be prosecuted.

At the time of this report three prosecutions are pending for the misuseof disabled persons badges.

6.15.6 The three prosecutions for the misused of disabled badges were for:

• A carer using the badge of the deceased person that was beingcared for;

• A schoolteacher using an out of date and altered badge issuedto her daughter;

• A son using his fathers badge to park near to work to evadeparking charges over a period of at least six months.

6.15.7 Information on disabled person badges misuse.

Number of Complaints of Blue Badge Misuse 308Number of Investigations Undertaken 70Number of Cautions Issued 15

Number of Warning Letters Sent 31Number of Cases Resulting in Prosecution 3

6.16 Enforcement Patrols Undertaken

6.16.1 Enforcement is undertaken by assigned beats across the City, thesetotal 34. They are divided into two car parks, nine core, five seasonal,thirteen daily and five stadium event beats. The performancemeasurement consists of a percentage completed, aiming for 100% foreach beat.



Annual Parking and Enforcement Report 2007/2008

24

6.16.2 Each beat consists of either a number of roads, car parks or acombination of both. The road or car park is allocated either a numberof visits per day or number of visits per week. This takes into accountthe enforcement requirements of each location over a 12 month period.

6.12.3 It can be seen that in some cases the beat achieved more than 100%performance for the whole of 2007/08 while others less.




25

BeatNumber

Month %CORE BEATS

1 108.29 Beat Number year %

2 95.12 3 98.74

3 98.74 4 101.274 101.27 5 88.79

5 88.79 6 92.77

6 92.77 7 110.05

7 110.05 8 103.94

8 103.94 9 93.75

9 93.75 10 103.41

10 103.41 11 98.28

11 98.28 99.00

12 106.97

13 106.48 SEASONAL BEATS


15 88.39 12 106.9716 94.90 13 106.48

17 95.83 14 96.70

18 93.88 15 88.39

19 122.96 16 94.90

20 83.28 98.69

21 84.21

22 89.86

23 79.57

24 82.53 DAILY BEATS


26 83.24 17 95.83

27 81.07 18 93.8828 73.62 19 122.9629 94.79 20 83.28

Total 94.27 This is without Stadium Events 21 84.21

22 89.86

23 79.57

24 82.53

25 80.98

26 83.24

Stadium Events 27 81.07

28 73.62

30 77.95 29 94.7931 69.08 88.14

32 113.27 Stadium Events year %

33 115.22 30 77.95

34 98.10 31 69.08

94.72 32 113.27

33 115.22

34 98.10

94.72

Car Parks year %

1 108.29

2 95.12

101.70




27

for not paying for parking or overstaying the timelimits. The higher band charge is £70, the lower £50.

Enforcement In this document ‘enforcement’ activity by the Council

covers that of parking controls and decriminalised

parking contraventions.

ISO9001:2000 Southampton City Council – Parking Services – activities connected with parking control andenforcement, maintenance of CCTV and parkingcontrol equipment.

KPI Key Performance Indicator.

MSCP Multi-Storey Car Park.

NTO Notice to Owner.

NPAS National Parking Adjudication Service.

Park Mark Safer Parking Award granted to car park operators

who meet the criteria set down to be granted a Park

Mark award for their car parks – administered by the

British Parking Association in conjunction with the

Home Office and the association of Chief PoliceOfficers.

PA Parking Attendant.

PCN Penalty Charge Notice.

Recovery rate The percentage of PCNs issued that have been

paid. Non payment of PCNs may arise due to those

receiving the PCN or as a consequence of the

Council not being able to obtain the keeper detailsfrom the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing

Agency).

TEC Traffic Enforcement Court – the County Court

at Northampton that registers debts from

unpaid Penalty Charge Notices.

TMA Traffic Management Act 2004 Part 6.

TPT Traffic Penalty Tribunal.




TRO Traffic Regulation Order - TRO is used as a generic

term used in this report to cover any traffic regulation

orders that are used to designate parking controls.

southampton annual parking report 2008_tcm46-236996

Documents