Agenda and minutes

The Panel noted there were no substitute members.

No declarations of interest were made.

To agree the notes of the last meeting held on 28^th October 2013.

The notes of the 28 October 2013 meeting were agreed as a correct record.

(Chairman / Lead Officer) The Overview and Scrutiny Committee has agreed the Terms of Reference of this Panel and associated Work Programme. This is attached. The Panel are asked at each meeting to review both documents.

The Panel noted their terms of reference and work programme.

To receive a verbal update on the workings of the North Essex Parking Partnership, on what their duties are and on what they are not allowed to do or cannot undertake due to budgetary constraints.

The Assistant Director, Environmental Services, Qasim Durrani, gave a short presentation (slides attached) on the background to the North Essex Parking Partnership. It was noted that the County Council had overall responsibility for parking and related matters before April 2012; this responsibility was delegated to the district councils under twelve separate agency agreements. At that time the overall deficit across the County was circa £1million. Essex County then cancelled the agency agreements in 2010. They set up a Review Group to look at their options for retrieving the deficit. They settled for a simpler two partnership option, splitting the partnership into North and South. Colchester Borough Council became the lead authority for the North Essex Parking Partnership (NEPP); Chelmsford being the lead authority for the South Partnership. This resulted in significant savings due to economies of scale of the operations as well as consolidation of a central support structure. It is estimated that the deficit will be overcome by the end of year three. To handle the governance they have set up a joint committee, with one representative from each district/borough along with the County Portfolio Holder (Councillor Waller was our representative). They have a single website where people can report problems. This website would channel them into the north or south partnership depending on where the problem was.

Councillor Lea asked if we were saving any money with this new set up with NEPP. Mr Durrani said that that with NEPP we were indeed saving money compared to the previous contract we had with Vinci Parks Limited.

Councillor Lea then asked the members present what they thought about the parking situation outside schools and did they have any suggestions to alleviate this.

Councillor Spencer asked what we would have to pay if there was still a deficit at the end of the year. Mr Durrani said that he did not know yet; we would have to argue that out with the partnership. It should be spread out equally among the partner authorities.

Councillor Murray asked if our enforcement officers had a role in enforcing the removal or penalising of dangerously parked cars outside schools or was this the preserve of the Police. Mr Durrani replied that if they were parked on Zig-Zag or double yellow lines etc. then, yes, they can enforce the restrictions. The Police would have to take a view of other types of parking violations, for example obstruction of a footpath. It was noted that NEPP was purchasing a CCTV camera car to capture data and issue notices.

Councillor Murray then asked how a school could ask for enforcement action outside their premises. Councillor Waller said that the CCTV vehicle would start up this month, in response to the many complaints received from outside schools. If a councillor could let him know of any problems outside schools then he could pass them on to NEPP to get enforcement action.

Councillor Sartin noted that the caretaker at Roydon School now puts out cones outside the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

To receive the agenda of the NEPP Joint Working Committee on street parking dated 31 October 2013 and the minutes dated 8 August 2013.

Councillor Waller, noted that these minutes were out of date and that there had been another meeting in October. As a member of the joint committee he noted that coming up would be discussions on surpluses and deficits and also on schemes to be put forward for consideration.  They would also be asking for more liaisons at lower levels between NEPP and District officers. They would also be looking at the risk register and would review the recent call-in on the increasing costs in visitor parking permits. Councillor Smith noted that the County were trying to ‘harmonise’ the costs, this being the jargon word used at present. It was also noted that NEPP was to consider a media protocol to help with the coverage of any sensitive issues.

To receive the (unapproved) notes of the Inter Authority Agreement (IAA) Member Working Group meeting dated 24 October 2013.

Councillor Breare-Hall noted that these minutes had been reported on before.

At the last meeting of this Panel the notes of the Highways Panel meeting held on 5 September were on the agenda. We now have the draft minutes of the Local Highways Panel meeting held on 21 November 2013 (attached) for information.

It was noted that Councillors Jon Whitehouse and J Lea were both members of this Panel.

Councillor Murray said that they had heard that money had been taken away from this district and spent in another area. Was this true? Councillor Lea said that they were told that this was not the case. Councillor Whitehouse noted that some money had been moved to another area as it was going to be lost as it could not be used in time. Councillor Murray would like to know exactly what had been lost from our district, why and where it had gone to. Or if in fact, we had lost any money at all.

The Panel wanted to know about Section 106 money and how it could be used. Officers noted that this fell out of the purview of this Panel and recommended that the Chairman ask the Overview and Scrutiny Committee if they would consider what use could be made of Section 106 money, perhaps by receiving a report or presentation.

To note the draft minutes of the Leisure Management Contract Monitoring Board minutes for 11 November 2013

The Panel noted the minutes of the Leisure Management Contract Monitoring Board of 11 November 2013.

Councillor Chambers noted that a Portfolio Holder Advisory group had been set up on Leisure and would be having their first meeting on 13 January 2014.

The Panel also noted that Loughton seemed to be the only centre where the liaison group was thriving; but it was also the centre with the lowest energy efficiency rating.

To consider which reports (if any) are ready to be submitted to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at its next meeting.

The Panel wanted to ask the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to consider having a presentation or report on the uses of Section 106 money.