Issue - meetings

(Safer, Greener & Transport Portfolio Holder) To consider the attached report (C-032-2016/17).

(1)        That the delegated authority from Essex County Council (ECC) to the North Essex Partnership (NEPP) for the administration of on street parking arrangements would end in March 2018 and the County Council, following a review of the arrangement, had decided to extend this up to 2022, subject to the approval of the Joint Committee of NEPP in December, be noted;

(2)        That the authority to agree the four year extension at the Joint Committee meeting in December 2016 from 2018 to 2022 be delegated to the Portfolio Holder for Safer, Greener and Transport; and

(3)       That the dissatisfaction of the Council at the lack of enforcement performance of the Partnership within the District be noted and the Portfolio Holder be requested to get an assurance of improved performance.

The Portfolio Holder for Safer, Greener & Transport presented a report on the extension of the Joint Committee Agreement for on street parking arrangements with the North Essex Parking Partnership for a further four years.

The Portfolio Holder reminded the Cabinet that the North Essex Parking Partnership (NEPP) was created in 2011 when Essex County Council withdrew the on-street parking arrangement from District and Borough Councils. The Partnership consisted of six authorities: Epping Forest District Council, Harlow District Council, Uttlesford District Council, Braintree District Council, Colchester Borough Council and Tendring District Council. Colchester Borough Council was the lead authority and all the staff were employed by them. The Partnership was governed by the Joint Committee which consisted of the Portfolio Holders from all the constituent members as well as Essex County Council.

The Portfolio Holder reported that the Partnership was set up for an initial seven year period with an option to extend by another four years. The County Council had reviewed the performance of the Partnership during 2016 and had decided to offer the four year extension. This would be discussed at the Joint Committee meeting in December 2016 and a joint decision taken on the extension. It was for this reason that all Portfolio Holders representing the member authorities were required to come with the necessary delegated authority. By granting delegated authority to the Portfolio Holder for Safer, Greener and Transport, the Council would ensure that it was a full partner in the management of the Partnership and be responsible for the on-street parking arrangements within Epping Forest District.

Cllr Bassett highlighted that Tendring District Council had its own on street Parking Enforcement Officers in certain areas, and enquired whether this Council would be allowed similar rights. The Assistant Director of Neighbourhoods (Technical Services) stated that Tendring District Council had been conducting a trial whereby they performed their on street enforcement in-house and had their own Enforcement Officers. The Council could ask the Partnership to give Epping Forest a similar delegation, but there would be costs involved.

Other Councillors commented that a clear programme of work should be forthcoming from the Partnership, and many felt that the Council would be better at on street parking enforcement than the Partnership. Cllr C C Pond proposed that recommendation 3 be amended to note the Council’s disappointment with the Partnership’s performance for on street enforcement duties. The Leader of Council was disappointed that more options were not included in the review undertaken by the County Council, and commented that the Epping Forest District was unique within the Partnership as it was the only one with London Underground Railway stations. The performance of the Partnership for on street enforcement had not been beneficial for residents across the District.

Decision:

(1)        That the delegated authority from Essex County Council (ECC) to the North Essex Partnership (NEPP) for the administration of on street parking arrangements would end in March 2018 and the County Council, following a review of the arrangement, had decided to extend this  ...  view the full minutes text for item 83