Agenda item

(Operational Planning & Transport Portfolio Holder) To consider the attached report (C-052-2010/11).

(1)        That the following be recommended to the Council for approval:

(a)        That the Northern Essex Parking Partnership be joined by the Council with effect from 1 April 2011;

(b)        That the Cabinet Member with responsibility for parking matters be nominated as the Partnership Board Member for the District and that the appointment of a deputy be made by the Leader at a later date;

(c)        That the off street parking operation be retained outside of the proposed Partnership  and delivered through the existing contract with Vinci Park;

(d)        That negotiations be commenced with Vinci Park to enable the permitted two year extension of the contract from September 2012 to August 2014 with respect to off street operations only; and

(e)        That all surpluses generated through on street enforcement activity within the District from 1 April 2011 would pass to the new Parking Partnership be noted.

The Portfolio Holder for Operational Planning & Transport presented a report concerning the future of on-street decriminalised parking enforcement within the District.

The Portfolio Holder outlined the proposals for the formation of a North Essex Parking Partnership to take over the responsibility for on-street parking enforcement when the present Agency Agreement with Essex County Council ceased on 31 March 2011.  Colchester Borough Council would be the Lead Authority and would, in due course, be the employing authority for all parking officers for the North Essex Area, which would encompass the districts of Epping Forest, Harlow, Uttlesford, Braintree, Colchester and Tendring. Since Epping Forest District Council was the only authority in Essex which had an outsourced enforcement operation, it had been agreed that the contract with Vinci Park, which was due to expire in September 2012, would remain in place and continue to be managed by this Council; to do otherwise would present significant risk to the Council due to contractual issues with Vinci Park. Discussions had taken place regarding outsourcing the new, wider on street enforcement operation but it had been agreed that this would be considered after the partnership had been successfully established.

The Portfolio Holder highlighted the advantages and disadvantages of joining the proposed partnership. Some of the Council’s initial concerns about the new arrangements had been allayed, and a revised approach was being suggested whereby: a breakeven position could be achieved through more efficient operations and enforcement of existing restrictions; tariffs would only rise by the prevailing rate of inflation; residents’ permits would only increase by approximately £10 over a four-year period; and higher tariffs or changes from the current arrangements would only be considered if the partnership wished to generate a surplus. The Council would also retain a vote at Partnership meetings during the period of its contract with Vinci Park. It was emphasised that any surplus generated through on street enforcement would pass to the new partnership, and that the County Council was only prepared to underwrite reasonable losses incurred by the Partnership for an initial two-year period.

The Leader of the Council thanked the Portfolio Holder and the Officers concerned for their role in the negotiations with the other members of the Partnership. The Cabinet was reminded that the Council ran a good service which generated a surplus, whereas most of the Councils within Essex made a loss from their operations. The Director of Environment & Street Scene added that the most likely reporting arrangements from the Partnership would be either the Safer Cleaner Greener Scrutiny Panel or the Local Highways Panel. The Portfolio Holder for Operational Planning & Transport would be the Council’s member on the Partnership Board; the Council’s Deputy member was a Leader appointment and would be made at a later date. The Portfolio Holder felt that the Council should enter the Partnership with a positive attitude as it would enable the Council to influence the future direction of the Partnership.

The off-street parking element of the contract had worked well and had provided a cost effective service. The contract allowed for a two year extension with the agreement of both parties, and the Portfolio Holder was proposing to commence contract negotiations with Vinci Park to continue the off-street element after September 2012.

Decision:

(1)        That the following be recommended to the Council for approval:

(a)        That the Northern Essex Parking Partnership be joined by the Council with effect from 1 April 2011;

(b)        That the Cabinet Member with responsibility for parking matters be nominated as the Partnership Board Member for the District and that the appointment of a deputy be made by the Leader at a later date;

(c)        That the off-street parking operation be retained outside of the proposed Partnership  and delivered through the existing contract with Vinci Park;

(d)        That negotiations be commenced with Vinci Park to enable the permitted two year extension of the contract from September 2012 to August 2014 with respect to off- street operations only; and

(e)        That all surpluses generated through on-street enforcement activity within the District from 1 April 2011 would pass to the new Parking Partnership be noted.

Reasons for Decision:

To enable the Council to play a full part in the operation of the Partnership when the current agency agreement with the County Council expired on 31 March 2011.

The contract with Vinci Park for the off street enforcement had worked well and provided a cost effective service.

Other Options Considered and Rejected:

·                     To decline to enter the Partnership with the subsequent contractual and financial consequences.

·                     To not extend the off street component of the contract with Vinci Park, and commence a full EU procurement exercise for a replacement contract in September 2012.