Agenda item

Considered – Report of the Corporate Director – Environment to update the committee on the financial performance and allocation of the Civil Parking Enforcement (CPE) annual surplus and use of the CPE reserve general working balance for the 2022/23 and 2023/24 financial year.

Inspector Zoe Billings from North Yorkshire Police (NYP) also attended the meeting to inform members of the roles and responsibilities of the police with regards to civil parking enforcement.

David Kirkpatrick, Team Leader - Traffic Engineering introduced the report, with some of the key points summarised below:

·       On-street parking charges are in operation in Harrogate, Knaresborough, Scarborough, Filey, Whitby and Northallerton. As a consequence of these charges and other income received through the administration of CPE, after operational costs have been met, a surplus is generated.

·       The surplus can be used for parking, or alternatively where the provision of further off-street parking accommodation is unnecessary or undesirable, the surplus can be used for public transport, highway or road improvement projects or environmental improvements. The surplus can be spent anywhere in North Yorkshire.

·       Prior to 2016, the CPE surplus was not fully reinvested and consequently over a number of years accrued a substantial reserve. This general working balance has since been allocated to fund other projects identified in the North Yorkshire Strategic Transport Prospectus.

·       The planned expenditure in the financial years 2022/23 and 2023/24 is greater than the forecast annual CPE surplus income and use of the remaining CPE reserve. To maintain the existing level of investment and delivery of these services, approval was given to fund the remaining shortfall through the Superintendence Reserve.

·       Parking demand is influenced by a range of factors such as weather, national events, and economy. Given the national economic situation, the increase in cost of living and changes to working arrangements, it may have an impact on visitor numbers to towns. Therefore, a forecast surplus of £3m has been applied to the 2022/23 and 2023/24 financial years.

·       The creation of the unitary authority means responsibility for both on and off-street parking is now wholly within the remit of North Yorkshire Council replacing the previous split arrangement of on-street being the responsibility of the former County Council and Off-street local authority car parks and parking being the responsibility of the district councils. Operationally, there will be no immediate change with North Yorkshire Council ensuring the delivery of the service is ‘safe and legal’ from vesting day.

·       Local Government Reorganisation does provide the opportunity to review the service and strategic approach to managing both on and off-street parking and the development of an inclusive new parking strategy.

There followed a discussion with the key points as summarised below:

·       The consultation with the borough councils in Harrogate and Scarborough over the use of the CPE surplus, as required by the terms of the CPE Service Level Agreement, has meant that other areas of the county have been overlooked and not consulted on suggestions for spending the CPE surplus. It was asked if this will be considered in future years. An assurance was received that a county wide view will be taken in the future.

·       Recognition of the work of civil parking enforcement officers on the frontline

·       The timing of the potential parking strategy review and how members will be able to provide input into this

·       The difficult parking situation in several rural villages and tourist areas was highlighted and the different tools available to combat unreasonable parking were discussed.

·       The level of assistance NYP can provide through neighbourhood policing and problem solving teams if a situation escalates into a traffic policing offence due to a vehicle causing a hazard or obstruction.

·       The installation of EV chargers in car parks was discussed and situations where supply is currently overestimating the demand and reducing the amount of standard car parking spaces available for ICE vehicles.

As part of the discussion on this item, Councillor Jabbour highlighted the car park situation at Malton railway station and the confusion it continues to cause residents due to the unclear signage and layout to distinguish between the two car parks owned by different operators. He gave an example of a local resident who recently received a £50 parking fine despite buying a ticket, albeit for the incorrect car park area. After appealing, the fine amount increased to £90. He asked whether the strategic review of on and off-street parking management and CPE services in North Yorkshire could seek to exert any influence to tackle the hard line approach and practices of some private car park operators.

The officers and Inspector Billings were thanked for their attendance.

Resolved – That:

i.                The TEEE O&S Committee notes the allocation of the CPE Surplus as set out in Table 2 of this report and the use of the Superintendence Reserve.

ii.              Note the opportunity for strategic review of on and off-street parking management and CPE services post Local Government Re-organisation.