Issue - meetings

(Internal Resources Portfolio - Councillor S Kane)To adopt the updated Off-street Civil Parking Enforcement Policy – (C-039-2022-23).

The Cabinet adopted the updated Off-street Civil Parking Enforcement Policy and the processing of Penalty Charge Notices for Epping Forest District Council.

The Internal Resource Portfolio Holder, Councillor Sam Kane introduced the report. He noted that the current Civil Parking Enforcement policy was adopted by Cabinet in 2016 and last updated in 2016. The Civil Parking Enforcement policy was an overarching policy outlining the broad legal framework and approach to parking enforcement in EFDC off-street car parks across the district, to ensure the way enforcement was applied was fair, transparent, and consistent.

Civil Parking Enforcement was subject to strict legislative and statutory guidance and required processes to be put in place to enable transparency and accountability. For the Council to enforce against motorists for contraventions under the Traffic Management Act 2004 and statutory guidance, it was necessary to have a Civil Parking Enforcement Policy which sets the regulatory framework and how Penalty Charge Notices were processed. The Civil Parking Enforcement policy does not replace or replicate national guidance but rather provides transparency to motorists and those enforcing the guidance.

The updated policy will be made available on the Council’s website under the district-wide policies, plans and strategies page. This was to provide transparency to the public on the Council’s processes for Civil Parking Enforcement and processing of Penalty Charge Notices, including handling challenges, representations, and appeals.

Following a question, it was noted that Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras may be used by the council but the rules would have to be checked.

Decision:

The Cabinet adopted the updated Off-street Civil Parking Enforcement Policy and the processing of Penalty Charge Notices for Epping Forest District Council.

Reasons for Proposed Decision

For good governance and to ensure that the Council’s Civil Parking Enforcement processes are up to date and promote the updated policy openly, as advised by the Department for Transport (statutory guidance for local authorities in England on civil enforcement of parking contraventions).

Other Options for Action

The do-nothing option would result in no change to the existing policy. Regular policy reviews were important to keep the organisation up to date with industry best practices and therefore the do-nothing option was not recommended.