Wardens ‘not incentivised’

Massive jump in parking tickets

Stirling Council’s new parking wardens are not “incentivised” to issue as many parking tickets as possible, according to Stirling Council’s new environment convener.

SNP councillor Jim Thomson’s comments followed complaints from disgruntled drivers who feel they are being unfairly targeted.

The Observer revealed last month that the wardens issued 651 tickets in the first two weeks after the council took over the job of parking enforcement on May 3.

This was in contrast to 110 tickets issued by police in the city centre between the beginning of April and end of July last year.

At a full meeting of Stirling Council on Thursday, opposition Tory councillor Alistair Berrill asked if the council had a policy for the “rules of engagement” of the new parking enforcement officers.

He added: “Specifically, are enforcement officers directly or indirectly incentivised to issue parking tickets, or are they instructed to give priority to establishing good relationships with motorists where possible, to keep the traffic moving, and to issue parking tickets only as a last resort?”

Environment and housing convener Jim Thomson denied there were any incentive schemes or targets for the officers to meet and said issuing a PCN (Penalty Charge Notice) to a vehicle was always a “last resort”.

He added: “Where possible motorists are moved on or advised to park legally, for example by purchasing a pay and display ticket, displaying a blue badge.

“Where vehicles have been issued with a ticket, a judgement has been made that no alternative is available. All enforcement staff are appropriately trained, a key focus of which is well developed interpersonal skills.”

Councillor Berrill said the response suggested there was no policy and that the reported issuing of 651 tickets over a two week period was “slightly at odds with what’s stated in the answer”.

He said setting out a policy could send out a message that “as long as motorists behave reasonably enforcement officers won’t penalise them for minor transgressions”.

Councillor Thomson responded: “I’m aware as you are that people are upset at paying parking fines but we did set out clear guidance to people and issued mock fines followed up by a three week campaign with notices on lampposts so no one should be under any illusions.

“I have met a few traders who have concerns and perhaps what we should be looking at is parking arrangements in the city centre to see if we can better meet the needs of motorists and the general public and on that basis I am happy to take this forward.

“The wardens are doing a great job. If you go into town these days no one is parked on double yellow lines.

“We support the work they are doing.”

Just a few weeks ago traffic wardens and other Stirling Council staff came under fire themselves after Observer readers claimed they were ignoring parking restrictions themselves.