Camden Parking Scrutiny Panel

Camden Parking Scrutiny Panel

There are no easy answers to the problems caused by traffic flowing through our streets and in an inner-city borough like Camden, parking controls are a fact of life.

However Camden Council is aware of concerns raised by residents and is always keen to review and improve its operations. That is why it has set up an all-party scrutiny panel to look at parking policy and enforcement in the borough and will be making recommendations for action by the Council in June 2005.

The panel is made up of the following elected members:

Councillor Maggie Cosin (Chair) (Labour)

Councillors Penny Abraham (Labour), Nasim Ali (Labour), Jonny Bucknell (Conservative), Martin Davies (Conservative), Barbara Hughes (Labour), Roy Shaw (Labour), and Jonathan Simpson (Liberal Democrat)

The panel has been:

· looking at the parking contracts in detail and discussing the implementation of the new contracts parking contracts with NCP

· interrogating the Council’s Executive Members for Environment and Community Safety and their officers about parking

· quizzing officers from the Association of London Government (ALG), who oversee parking throughout London and Transport for London (TfL) who are responsible for bus lanes.

· hearing independent expert evidence from the Parking Adjudicator for London, the British Parking Association, the RAC Foundation for Motoring and the Metropolitan Police.

· taking evidence from other boroughs including Westminster, Islington and Kensington and Chelsea.

We have also written to over 900 organisations representing residents, businesses, motorists, motorcyclists, cyclists, pedestrians, older people and disabled people to seek their views.

Some of the other key questions the panel are asking, and on which it would like to hear your views, are:

· what do you understand to be Camden’s parking policy?

· are the current parking policies correct for Camden?

· is the Council’s current parking strategy clear and effective?

· does parking enforcement achieve the aims and objectives, set out in the parking strategy, in terms of traffic flows, road safety and air quality?

· is parking enforcement fair and consistent?

· does current parking enforcement practice affect some people more than others?

· is publicity and information about the disabled badge schemes adequate and accessible?

· how can practice be more customer focussed when the majority of customers are unwilling customers?

· how effective is the Council’s use of permit systems to balance competing needs - for example those of residents, businesses, visitors, doctors?

· could some policy changes improve on this?

· what practical suggestions can be made for improving things?

If you have views, experiences or arguments, which you think the panel should consider, you can submit them in one of the following ways:

· By telephone: contact officers Vickie Skade and Katie Gilman on 020 7974 3255 and 2541

· In writing: send us your evidence in writing to the postal or e-mail address below. We would like written views by 31 March 2005 at the latest, but the earlier the better.

Room 317, Camden Parking Scrutiny Panel, Camden Town Hall, Judd Street, WC1H 9JE
Fax: 020 7974 3202
or email .

· In person: come and speak to the panel at the public meeting looking at all aspects of parking policy and enforcement on 16 February 2005 at the Camden Centre, adjacent to the Town Hall, when everyone will have a chance to participate. The agenda for this meeting is included at the end of this document.

· In person: come and speak to the panel at a meeting on the 9th of March looking at disabled parking and the valuing diversity issues. The speakers for this meeting will be arranged in advance and the agenda for this meeting is included at the end of this document.

What scrutiny doesn't do

Scrutiny doesn't deal with individual queries, concerns or complaints.

If you wish to appeal against a parking ticket you have received, you will need to write, within 14 days, to:

Rudy Bright

Parking Manager

PO Box 20217

London, NW1 9GH

Telephone: 020-7974 4646

Fax: 020-7974 4611/4610

Email:

If you have a complaint about parking enforcement (as distinct from challenging a parking ticket) for example about the conduct of a parking attendant, please write in the first instance to:

Rosemary Perkins

The Complaints Officer

Environment Department

Camden Town Hall

Argyle Street

London WC1H 8EQ

Phone: 020 7974 6937

Fax: 020 7974 6439

Email:

If you are not satisfied with a service you have received from the Council use the Council’s complaints procedure. Either contact Camden’s Central Complaints Unit on 020 7974 5644 or pick up a form from any Council office or library or you can complain direct through the Council's complaints website http://www.camden.gov.uk/complaints.

Camden Parking Scrutiny Panel

Agenda

Wed 16th of February at 7pm

Camden Centre, Bidborough Street, WC1 (next to the Town Hall)

This meeting is intended as an opportunity for members of the public to express their views to the scrutiny panel on parking enforcement in Camden. The meeting will begin in the large hall but may be broken up into 4 smaller workshops to enable as many people as possible to participate.

If you need any support to take part in the meeting eg transport, interpreters please let us know.

Vickie Skade and Katie Gilman 020 7974 3255 and 2541

Fax: 020 7974 3202

Room 317, Camden Parking Scrutiny Panel, Camden Town Hall, Judd Street, WC1H 9JE or email .

Agenda

1. APOLOGIES

2. DECLARATIONS BY MEMBERS OF PERSONAL AND PREJUDICIAL INTERESTS IN RESPECT OF ITEMS ON THIS AGENDA

3. ANNOUNCEMENTS

4. MINUTES

5. NOTIFICATION OF ANY ITEMS OF BUSINESS THAT THE CHAIR CONSIDERS URGENT

6. ORAL EVIDENCE TAKING

7. WRITTEN EVIDENCE TAKING

8. DATE OF NEXT MEETING

9. ANY OTHER BUSINESS THAT THE CHAIR CONSIDERS URGENT

There are 2 disabled parking bays on Bidborough Street outside the Camden CentreCamden Parking Scrutiny Panel

Wednesday 9th March 2005

Committee Room 4, Town Hall, Judd Street, London, WC1H 9JE

At this meeting the panel will be considering oral and written evidence relating to disabled parking and the impact of parking enforcement on older people, people with disabilities, Black and Minority ethnic groups, and women and children.

Panel meetings are held in public and the public are welcome to attend and find out what’s happening. Individuals and community groups presenting evidence at this meeting will be arranged in advance. Please note it is not possible for you to take part in the discussion unless it has been organised in advance of the meeting. If you think you would like to participate please contact:

Vickie Skade and Katie Gilman 020 7974 3255 and 2541

Fax: 020 7974 3202

Room 317, Camden Parking Scrutiny Panel, Camden Town Hall, Judd Street, WC1H 9JE or email .

There will be British Sign Language Interpreters and a Palantypist (speech to text reporter) at this meeting.

If you need any other support to take part, (eg transport, interpreters) please let us know as soon as you can.

AGENDA