Issue - items at meetings - Parking Annual Report 2009/2010

Report of the Acting Director of Environment (copy attached).

(1)         That the Cabinet Member endorses the publication of the Parking Annual Report for 2009/10 for submission to the Department for Transport and Traffic Penalty Tribunal under the provisions of the Traffic Management Act 2004.

(2)         That the Cabinet Member authorises the Acting Director of Environment to produce and publish a public version of the report to be made available on the Council’s website.

48.1         The Cabinet Member considered a report of the Acting Director of Environment concerning the Parking Annual Report 2009/10 on the performance of Parking Services for submission to the Department for Transport and Traffic Penalty Tribunal and for publication under the provisions of the Traffic Management Act 2004.

48.2    The Traffic Management Act 2004 placed a requirement on Local Authorities to publish an annual parking report.

48.3    The Cabinet Member welcomed the publication of the Brighton & Hove Annual Parking Report 2009/10 following the success of the Council’s award winning first annual report last year.  He also welcomed the opportunity this provided to inform and engage with the public on a range of parking issues. 

48.4    Councillor Mitchell referred to the enforcement of bus lanes and the increase in fines.  She asked if this was due to enforcement on Saturdays.  The Assistant Director, Sustainable Transport replied that the introduction of enforcement on Saturdays was working, however, the number of Penalty Charge Notices issued was likely to decrease next year.

48.5    Councillor West referred to Low Emission Permit Discounts.  He suggested a sliding scale was used instead of using vehicle excise duty band A or B.  The owner of a vehicle with high emissions would pay a higher rate for a resident’s permit.  Councillor West referred to the rise in cost of supported bus services.  He asked if more should be expected from the bus companies for the extra money they received. 

48.6    The Assistant Director, Sustainable Transport replied that supported bus services were tendered on a three year basis.  

48.7    The Cabinet Member commended the officers who had made the report as clear as possible.

48.8    RESOLVED - That having considered the information and the reasons set out in the report, the Cabinet Member accepted the following recommendations:

(1)         That the publication of the Parking Annual Report for 2009/10 for submission to the Department for Transport and Traffic Penalty Tribunal under the provisions of the Traffic Management Act 2004 be endorsed.

(2)         That the Acting Director of Environment be authorised to produce and publish a public version of the report to be made available on the Council’s website.