Issue - meetings

To receive and consider report 186/07 of the Strategic Director. 

Introduction and Report Summary

Oxfordshire County Council (OCC) in 2005, resolved to introduce Decriminalised Parking Enforcement (DPE) throughout Oxfordshire and accordingly, in early 2006 started negotiations with the four rural District Councils with a view to establishing a single enforcement authority in each district area, with District Council’s undertaking enforcement under an agency agreement with OCC.

The Executive received a report no 246/05 in March 2006 setting out the principles of DPE and authorised officers to commence negotiations with OCC. The purpose of this report is to update Members on the progress of the project.

The Contact Officer for this report is Gordon Willcox, Section Head (Transportation) telephone 01235 540390.

Recommendations

That the Executive:

note the progress of this project;

reaffirm its commitment to the principle of Civil Parking Enforcement and its willingness to undertake on-street enforcement in the Vale on behalf of OCC together with off-street enforcement subject to reaching agreement with OCC on all operational, administrative and financial matters, given that any financial arrangements must accord with the Council’s medium term financial plan.  

(Time: 4.31pm to 4.41pm)

The Executive received and considered report 186/07 of the Strategic Director updating on negotiations to introduce decriminalised parking enforcement, bringing together the control and enforcement of on and off-street parking in the interests of improving public understanding.  In 2005 Oxfordshire County Council had resolved to introduce decriminalised parking enforcement throughout Oxfordshire and started negotiations with the four rural District Councils with a view to establishing a single enforcement authority in each district area, with District Councils undertaking enforcement under an agency agreement with the County Council.  In March 2006, the Executive had received a report setting out the principles of decriminalised parking enforcement and authorised officers to commence negotiations with the County Council. 

The Executive received an update on the progress of the project.  It was noted that the officers had resisted attempts to pass the cost of this initiative to the District Councils.  The County Council would need to prepare an offer for the Districts to consider. 

RESOLVED

(a)       that the progress of the decriminalised parking enforcement project be noted; and

(b)       that commitment be re-affirmed to the principle of Civil Parking Enforcement and its willingness to undertake on-street enforcement in the Vale on behalf of Oxfordshire County Council, together with off-street enforcement subject to reaching agreement with the County Council on all operational, administrative and financial matters, given that any financial arrangements must accord with the Council’s medium term financial plan.