PARKING SERVICE ANNUAL REPORT 2007/8

1.0 BACKGROUND

1.1 The Portsmouth City Council Parking Section came into being when we
commenced enforcement under the powers of the Road Traffic 1991
commonly known as “decriminalised parking” on the 5th April 1999. We
were the fifth authority outside of London to do so. There are now in
excess of 180. This statute transferred enforcement powers from
the Police to Local authorities and introduced a civil hearing conducted by
the National Parking Adjudication Service rather than cases being heard
by the Magistrates Court.

1.2 On the 31st March 2008 the Road Traffic Act 1991 was replaced by Part 6
of the Traffic Management Act 2004. This has introduced a number of
changes including the introduction of differential penalties dependant
upon the severity of the contravention. The impact of these changes will
be reported upon in next years report.

1.3 One of the changes of this new legislation is for every authority in
England and Wales operating parking under this legislation to submit an
annual report. In preparation for this change this report contains the
information required in the future

1.4 The work of the Parking Section has expanded over the years and now
covers a number of areas. These include:-

• Parking Policy and strategy

• Off street car parks
• On street pay and display places
• Enforcement of parking restrictions
• Processing of challenges and appeals
• Dealing with abandoned and untaxed motor vehicles
• Residents parking surveys
• Implementation and administration of residents parking schemes
• Drafting and implementation of traffic regulation orders
• Reporting vehicles illegally traded on the highway
• Issuing of disabled badges and administration of disabled bays
• Vehicle crime reduction in co-operation with the Police
• Cash collection and banking
• Car Park & Parking Meter maintenance, both internal and external
• Signage
• Partnership working with other parking providers

1.5 The main subjects are covered in more detail in the following
paragraphs.
2.0 PARKING POLICY AND STRATEGY

2.1 The Parking Service is part of the Transport and Street Management
Service and plays a full part in contributing to its annual Business Plan
that in turn contributes to the Corporate Priorities

The Service Business Plan has five main objectives.

1. Continuous Improvement of service delivery and effective
management of resources.
2. To deliver effective asset management and service delivery in respect
of the cities highway and coastal infrastructure.
3. To facilitate safe access for people and goods.
4. To improve the Environment and Physical Appearance of the City
through the resources of Clean City Services.
5. To effectively deploy the staff and resources of the Parking Service

2.2 The Parking Service objectives are reproduced from the business plan
and are as follows:-

To effectively deploy the staff and resources of the Parking Service.

Reason for objective:

To ensure the free flow of traffic and to improve road safety.

Target 5.1
Prevent traffic congestion from illegal parking.

Assessment of Target:
Link to bus punctuality times
Link to average journey times from traffic monitoring sites
Employ TMC staff to monitor main routes by CCTV

Strategies for achieving objective:

5.1.1 Contribute to the operational management of the highway network.

Annual Targets:
a) Contribute to organisation of planned events – ongoing.
b) Staff to direct enforcement to areas where CCTV shows there are
problems on main routes – ongoing.
c) Main roads identified as “Priority” beats and covered first in the duty
roster.

5.1.2 Contribute to Emergency Traffic Plan.

Annual Target: Train staff to perform traffic control duties when necessary in
an emergency by June 2008.
5.13 Take full advantage of decriminalised enforcement options as they
become available .eg enforcement of box junctions and banned movements.
Annual Target: Introduce bus lane enforcement by October 2008.
Target 5.2:
Use on and off-street parking controls to support the city’s economic and
transport policy objectives.

Assessment of Target:
Monitor percentage increase in the use of PCC parking spaces

Strategies for achieving objective:

5.2.1 Control the number of on-street spaces and wherever possible reduce
the amount of parking restrictions, freeing up space.
Annual Target: Review parking restrictions to maximise kerbside parking in
residential areas by December 2008.

5.2.2 Where economically possible increase the available number of public

off-street car park spaces.
Annual Target: a) Review the business case for extending the Isambard
Brunel car park by January 2009.
b) Investigate options for additional parking to serve Albert
Road and the Kings Theatre by July 2008.
c) Operate the Wickham Street car park at The Hard by July
2008.
5.2.3 Maintain and enhance council car parks
Annual Target: Annual inspection and maintenance programme and the use
of improved technology. Monitor usage and plan for future needs.

5.2.4 Introduce residents parking schemes where these are

Annual Target: Review Guidelines by July 2008.

5.2.5 Use parking tariffs to influence take up of parking (demand

management) whilst encouraging the economic growth of the city.
Annual Target: Review tariffs as part of budget review process.

5.2.6 Review staff parking arrangements and introduce a staff parking plan
Annual Target: Review current eligibility by October 2008.

5.2.7 Provide for the parking needs of people with disabilities.

Annual Target: Review blue badge issue process. Introduce enforceable
disabled parking bays city-wide.

Target 5.3:
Use parking enforcement powers to improve road safety.

Assessment of Target:
Link to numbers of pedestrians and others killed or seriously injured

Strategies for achieving objective:

5.3.1 Deploy parking enforcement staff to help address road safety

problems, especially outside of schools.
Annual Target: Review attendance rota to ensure it continues to match need.

5.3.2 Take up new civil enforcement powers with regard to traffic offences.
Annual Target: From April 2009.

5.3.3 Introduce and amend Traffic Regulation Orders to protect junctions and
other areas where safety is an issue.
Annual Target: Review current needs with Police and Fire and Rescue.

Target 5.4:
Tackle parking related crime.

Assessment of Target:
Police vehicle crime statistics.
Number of abandoned vehicles removed.
Number of untaxed vehicles removed

Strategies for achieving objective:

5.4.1 Reduce car crime, especially in car parks.

Annual Target: a) work with partners on specific initiatives such as Operation
Cobra.
b) Actively support the Enforcement Forum and Vehicle Crime
Reduction Group.
5.4.2 Identify and remove abandoned vehicles
Annual Target: 90% of abandoned vehicles visited within 24 hours; 92% of
abandoned vehicles removed within 24 hours of inspection.

5.4.3 Actively support the identification and removal of untaxed vehicles.

Annual Target: Monitor removal levels and costs.
5.4.4 Identify and reduce the number of cars being offered for sale on the
highway.
Annual Target: Work with Public Protection service and Licensing to develop
effective measures.

5.4.4 Reduce abuse and fraudulent use of disabled blue badges.

Annual Target: Introduce a formal inspection campaign by November 2008.

3.0 CAR PARKS

3.1 The City Council operates 22 surface car parks and one multi storey.
These contain 2643 spaces. However parking in the Cities main retail
and entertainment areas such as the City Centre, Gunwharf Quays and
Port Solent are mainly owned and operated privately.

3.2 Negotiations have commenced over the last few months to

enter into partnership with private individuals and companies in three
specific areas to operate areas as public car parks.

3.3 Our car parks generated a total income of just under £2.5 million and a
 surplus of £1,510,612 which forms the service cash limit and is part of the
City Councils corporate budget.

4.0 ENFORCEMENT OF PARKING RESTRICTIONS

4.1 In last years report I highlighted the problems that were being
experienced due to staff shortages and levels of sickness. On average
we operated with ten vacancies in the enforcement team. There was also
an excessively high level of sickness amongst this group that averaged
29 days per person.

4.2 During this financial year three recruitment campaigns have taken place
to try and address the number of vacancies. Unfortunately there has been
a shortage of good candidates that has only resulted in the number of
vacancies being reduced from an average of ten to an average of five.

4.3 Whilst this is progress, the increased demands on the service mean that
to provide effective coverage especially of residents parking areas the
total establishment needs to be increased. However there is little point in
doing this if we are unable to fill the existing vacancies. There are signs
that a change in the manner of advertising for staff may be improving
interest which will be reflected upon in next years report

4.4 The average level of sickness has been reduced from last years 29 days
to an average of 19 days in this financial year saving some 450 working
days. This is approaching the current benchmarking figure of16 days
averaged by other authorities carrying out this enforcement. This has
been achieved by the use of a dedicated full time HR support officer paid
for from parking revenue and a strict use of PCC’s absence management
policies.

4.5 The number of PCN’s issued during the year increased slightly year on
year by 1,394 to a total of 37,377. Which is no doubt in part due the
reduced levels of sickness absence. If we take the average income per
PCN issued which is £27 and multiply it by the additional PCN’s issued
we get a total of £37,638. Which more than covers the cost of buying in
the additional resource.

4.6 Whilst the level of support from HR has proved to be cost effective it will
over the coming year be reduced to three days per week. I am optimistic
that sickness levels will continue to be reduced in the next 12 months. It
is reasonable to assume however that the decrease will not be as
dramatic in the forthcoming year. We have set an average target of 15
days per person.

4.7 It is our intention to introduce a procedure for the removal of vehicles

from those drivers/owners considered to be persistent offenders as
defined in the TMA 2004. ie three or more penalty notices unpaid.
5.0 THE APPEAL PROCESS

5.1 In last years report I reported a drop in the number of Penalty Charge
Notices (PCN) issued to 35,983. This year there has been a slight
increase to 37,377. The resultant number of appeals to the independent
National Parking Adjudication Service, challenging penalties issued by our
staff dropped for the second year running to 90 from 168. This represents
a drop in the annual rate from 0.45% to 0.24% of all penalties issued.

5.2 The number of appeals not contested by the authority or allowed by the
adjudicator also dropped for a second year from 57% to 49%. This
includes those cases which the Council would not have proceeded with
had the appellant provided the information they subsequently produced at
an earlier stage in the process. A total of 46% of all appeals were won by
the Council.

5.3 A total of 57.69% of PCN’s were paid at £30, 9.97% at £60,1.74% at £90
and 1.14% at £95. A further 7.89% have been registered as a debt at the
Traffic Enforcement Centre and will subsequently be passed to bailiffs for
enforcement action.

5.4 A total of 8.61% of penalty notices were cancelled by parking office staff
as a result of representations made to them by the driver/owner or as a
result of our cancellation policy. eg disabled drivers penalties normally
being cancelled on the first occasion.

5.5 These statistics represent a further improvement in the decision making

process both on street and in the back office.

6.0 FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE

6.1 The TMA 2004 requires authorities to report on the income and
expenditure from their on street parking activities, separated out by
source. This is attached at Appendix A

6.2 Income from penalty charge notices received during the financial year
amounted to £990,038. Some of these payments will relate to penalties
issued in 2006/07 in the same way that some issued this year may not
be paid until next year.

6.3 Income from on street pay and display charges was £1,574,950.

6.4 A surplus of income over expenditure was achieved of £259,772 that will
transfer to the off street reserve budget to be spent on maintenance of
the service and its infrastructure and improving efficiency.

6.5 A full financial breakdown of income and expenditure is attached at

Appendix A
7.0 ABANDONED VEHICLES

7.1 One experienced member of staff left during the year and was replaced
by somebody new to the role. Despite the considerable amount of training
needed by this person the high level of performance in this area has been
maintained.

7.2 In the last financial year there was a drop of 18% in the number of
vehicles reported as being abandoned to 1985. A total of 289 were
subsequently removed and scrapped. This represents a 41% drop. The
reduction in both of these figures may be due to our activities and the
continued increase in the price of scrap metal resulting in owners
disposing of their cars properly. In the last year there have been further
increases in the price of steel from £78 to £90 per tonne. This has
probably resulted in owners realising that disposing of the vehicle
correctly has a financial return rather than in previous years where there
was often a cost to disposal that made abandonment an attractive option.

6.3 For the third year running the average time taken to dispose of a vehicle
from the time it has been notified to the service has been maintained at
three days. Over 90% of reported vehicles were examined within 24
hours of them being reported with 92% of vehicles being removed within
24 hours of them being inspected.

6.4 A new development this year is that some of the better condition vehicles
are being disposed of to a vehicle dismantling company rather than being
scrapped. This has reduced our costs in handling and the need to go
through the de-pollution process before disposing of the vehicle. There is
also an increased income as some parts are frequently worth more than
the scrap value.

7.0 UNTAXED VEHICLES

7.1 In October 2005 Portsmouth City Council took up devolved powers from
the DVLA to deal with untaxed motor vehicles. This is the second full year
in which we have used them.

7.2 The number of untaxed vehicles removed last year increased from 167 to
223. A total of 107 were subsequently returned to the registered keeper
after they had taxed the vehicle and paid a penalty. A further 114 were
either sold or scrapped. Two are currently in storage awaiting disposal.

7.3 Unfortunately current DVLA guidelines dictate that only vehicles with a
value in excess of £5,000 can be sold. Under this value they have to be
scrapped. This results in some vehicles that have a reasonable value
being scrapped when greater income could be achieved by selling it. This
is an issue that is currently being raised with the DVLA.

7.4 In addition to the vehicles removed, a further 914 vehicles were identified
 by Parking Attendants as being untaxed and reported to the DVLA for
such action as they deemed necessary.

7.5 The numbers of untaxed vehicles in the City appears to be rising and the
DVLA are keen to provide additional technology such as ANPR
(Automatic Number Plate Recognition) cameras to aid detection. This is
an area that may be considered over the next year.

7.6 Whilst this part of the service ran at a deficit of £17,649, that is contained
within the overall on street parking budget, it provides a
useful public service and complements our work in dealing with
abandoned vehicles.

8.0 VEHICLES TRADED FOR SALE ON THE HIGHWAY

8.1 During the period of this report the number of vehicles traded for sale on
the highway has reduced, mainly as a result of the use of legislation
dealing with untaxed and abandoned vehicles. There are still a hard core
of traders who use the highway to conduct business rather than pay the
costs involved in running a legitimate business. Vehicles are advertised
for sale using pay as you go mobile phones which makes it difficult to
trace the dealer.

8.2 However improving co-operation with colleagues in other departments of

the City Council is proving beneficial.

9.0 RESIDENT PARKING SCHEMES

9.1 The first residents parking scheme was introduced into the City in1999
There are now 27 such schemes with 9746 permit holders.

9.2 In the last year four new areas were introduced in North End, Wymering,
Cosham and Milton. Three new areas have been surveyed to establish
residents views on the introduction of permit parking in accordance with
the approved 3 year programme and are awaiting a decision on whether
they will be progressed. A further five existing areas were resurveyed to
establish residents views on their effectiveness. The surveys covered a
total of 19,568 properties.

9.3 Analysing the responses placing them on a data base and responding to
residents questions continues to put a considerable strain on our
administration staff.

9.4 The total cost of undertaking these surveys was £70,837 in the last
financial year.

9.5 The total cost of enforcing,maintaining and administering the 27 schemes

amounted to £425,932 in the last financial year.
10.0 TRAINING

10.1 Approximately 175 days in total have been spent on staff training in the
last year. A precise number is difficult to calculate as some courses
consist of several hours a week over a number of weeks.

10.2 The courses attended covered the following:-

• Health & Safety
• Data Protection
• Dealing with Challenging People
• Assertiveness
• Equalities & Diversity
• Race & Racism
• Cultural Awareness
• Witness Training
• Personal Development Review
• Motivation & Team Building
• Traffic Management Act 2004
• Train to Gain – Maths and English

Those attending received either NVQ or City & Guild qualification

depending on the course.

11.0 TECHNICAL INNOVATION

11.1 During the last financial year several initiatives have been undertaken to
improve customer choice and accessibility. Amongst these are:-
a) the introduction of the option to pay for parking by mobile phone at
every on and off street parking place by use of the Ring Go system.
b) the procurement of chip and pin parking meters to be installed in
June.
c) the introduction of French, Spanish and German options to our
“talking” parking meters, giving crime prevention and other
information.
d) the commencement of the programme to make all our residential
disabled bays in the City enforceable rather than just of courtesy
status, which will be completed this year.
e) the commencement of our programme to convert all of our parking
meters to solar power.

12.0 PARKING MANAGER’S COMMENTS

12.1 This has been yet another busy year for the service. Significant
progress has been made in addressing absence due to sickness but
there are still improvements to be made. The methods used have been
monitored corporately and are likely to be adopted by other departments.

12.2 A considerably amount of time has been invested in additional or

 refresher training for staff which has been well received by the majority.
Some of this training was provided externally but increasing use has
been made of internal sources provided by Learning and Development.
Again the Service has been a corporate leader by working with them to
set competencies for each level of employee. These will be used for
assessment and monitoring at the monthly 1-2-1 meetings and for
appraisal.

12.3 As always I’m sure there will be external interest in the income generated
and the number of penalty charge notices issued. Whilst this is
understandable I would draw attention to the reduction in the level of
appeals and the percentage of these won by the council. These show
that our enforcement criteria and cancellation policies reported last year
are working correctly and being correctly applied by staff on the street
enforcing the regulations and in the office dealing with appeals.

12.4 The introduction of the Traffic Management Act 2004 on the 31st March
2008 required a considerable amount of work in preparation at very short
notice by several members of staff, together with training for those using
it. The impact of this legislation will be reported upon in next years report
by which time more should be known about the use of other powers
contained within this act such as bus lane enforcement.