Parking plan is not a cash cow

Council’s doesn’t want to come down hard on drivers

Moves by Stirling Council to decriminalise parking and replace police traffic wardens with their own employees shouldn’t be a money- maker for the local authority, say councillors.

The council’s environment and housing committee members have said they want to avoid issues seen in other areas where authorities being accused of coming down hard on motorists simply to swell their own coffers.

Decriminalisation transfers to the council enforcement of all parking restrictions and waiting loading restrictions powers, including on double and single yellow lines, clearways, disabled bays, loading bays, bus bays, taxi ranks, residents and doctors permit holder bays, and school keep clear zig zags.

Councils who go down the decriminalised parking route retain the proceeds from penalty charges, which are used to finance enforcement and adjudication systems and for certain other traffic management and transportation purposes.

In “appropriate circumstances” - and where those power have been requested by local authorities the local authority can authorise the clamping and towing away of vehicles.

When implemented, Police Scotland will play no role in the day to day enforcement of parking restrictions, other than the issuing of penalty tickets for endorsable offences to any vehicle deemed to be causing a road safety hazard, danger or obstruction.

Officials were seeking the go ahead to apply to the Scottish Government for Decriminalised Parking Enforcement Powers once a feasibility study/business case is complete.

One told the committee: “As a consequence of Police Scotland’s decision to delete the role of traffic warden in January 2014, increased non-compliance with on street parking regulations has been noted within the council area, especially within the controlled parking zones of Stirling City and Dunblane.

“Whilst Stirling Council has an ongoing agreement to part fund traffic warden provision in the council area, this is not sustainable.”

Councillor Neil Benny said: “Obviously implementation of decriminalised parking is something quite fraught.

“I don’t want to see this farmed out to private contractors with the potential for income targets like they have done in some other cities.

“We want this to be about being welcoming as a city and as a district to visitors and residents.

“We also want to see that this is not an income stream.

“Fining people as a way of raising money is not a way to welcome people to the city centre. I would like to see general enforcement officers in the city centre, not just enforcing traffic regulations but dog fouling and litter. So, within these parameters, I am happy to approve this.”

Committee chair Councillor Danny Gibson said: “These principles to me seem perfectly reasonable and I would be happy if we can record this as part of the decision.

“To be absolutely clear, it is in the best interests of everyone in the Stirling Council area that we go down this route.”

Councillor Mark Ruskell said: “My understanding is that what is being presented is the status quo but with the council managing it rather than paying to maintain traffic warden services. The issue here is public expectation. In Dunblane people seem to be looking at it as an opportunity to redesign and address parking problems.

“I understand the reasons we can’t deal with the whole issue in one fowl swoop but there is a lot of frustration around and longstanding parking problems to be addressed so if this is not the opportunity to do this I’d like to know what needs to be done.”

Officials said this was the first stage in a process which would give them “the tools to go forward” and Transport Scotland and the Scottish Government first had to be assured that what was currently in place fully complied with regulations and that all the signage and traffic regulations were in order.

There will also be further work done on deciding how much “grace”, if any, would be given to drivers who slightly overstay .

Existing enforcement officers employed by the council may undertake the enforcement duties for decriminalised parking.

The council would have to join the Scottish Parking Appeals Service, an impartial and independent adjudication system to decide any appeals the council could not resolve, before implementation, which could be summer 2016. The committee agreed officials should press ahead with plans and contact the Scottish Government.