LB Bromley Parking Annual Report 20072008

8/8/2019 LB Bromley Parking Annual Report 20072008

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LONDON BOROUGH OF BROMLEY

Annual ParkingReport

1st April 2007 - 31st March 2008


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ON

1 Introduction 4

CONTENTS

Subject Page No.

2 Background to parking in the London Borough of Bromley 5

3 Overview of parking provision and strategy1. Principles of Parking provision2. Off-street parking3. Park Mark, the Safer Parking Award4. Off-street parking capacities

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4 The services we provide1. Parking permits2. The Blue Badge Scheme3. Dispensations and suspensions4. Parking enforcement5. Enforcement requests6. School Crossing Patrols7. Who provides the services

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101010111111

5 Recent changes and new developments1. Traffic Management Act 2004

2. Differential parking penalties3. The Smart car (mobile CCTV unit)4. Head cams5. Mobile phone parking6. Card payments in car parks

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6 Statistical performance and information regardingPenalty Charge Notices (PCNs) issued

1. Summary of total number of PCNs issued2. On and off-street breakdown of PCNs issued3. Challenges and representations received

4. Waivers, write-offs and cancellations5. Debt recovery and bailiff action6. Contravention codes, descriptions, charging levels and

zones

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7 Financial information 2007-20081. Parking income and expenditure2. Parking Place Reserve Account

212122

8 Glossary of Terms 23


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1 On-street (kerbside) controlled parking stock in Bromley town centre 6

LIST OF TABLES

Page No.

2 On-street controlled parking stock in other areas of the Borough 6

3 Off-street (car parks) parking capacities and Park Mark accreditations 8

4 Parking permits total numbers issued between 1st April 2007and 31st March 2008, per parking zone, including visitors vouchers 9

5 Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) breakdown of PCNs according tothe method of issue and total numbers issued between 1st April 2006and 31st March 2008 15

6 Challenges and representations received total numbers andpercentages between 1st April 2007 and 31st March 2008 16

7 PCNs waived, written-off and cancelled total numbers andpercentages between 1st April 2007 and 31st March 2008 16

8 List contravention codes, descriptions, charging levels, zones and totalnumbers and percentages of PCNs issued between 1st April 2007 and31st March 2008, per contravention code 18

9 Parking Place Reserve Account actual expenditure and incomefor the year ending 31st March 2008 22


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Thank you for taking the time to read this Annual Report its aim is to summarisethe services currently provided to residents and motorists by the Parking Section.

This report outlines the many changes that have taken place over the last year andalso explains what we intend to achieve in the coming year. We have tried to showhow we balance the needs of local residents, businesses and motorists alike. Thedemand for parking is high and, as Bromley has one of the highest car ownershiplevels in London, there will be a continued demand on Parking Services to meetthese challenges in the future.

We have provided information on our full range of services, including; blue badgeand permit applications along with many others that are not commonly associatedwith parking, such as School Crossing Patrols and road safety issues.

Obviously, enforcement of parking contraventions forms part of this report and wehave listed and analysed for you the number of Penalty Charge Notices issued in thelast financial year. Currently parking restrictions in the borough are enforced by ourcontractor, Vinci Park Services UK Limited, with back office and appeals servicesbeing provided in-house. The contract, known as Parking Operations andEnforcement Services, is managed by London Borough of Bromley staff and alsocovers the provision of the School Crossing Patrol Service. Vinci Park has been ourcontractor for approximately seven years and following a tendering process, theircontract was renewed in October 2006. We try to enforce the various parkingrestrictions in a fair and reasonable way, listening to the challenges and appeals ofmotorists and making policy decisions with these in mind.

This is the first Annual Parking Report pr ction of the TrafficManagement Act 2004, which resulted in many signi f youhave any questions that are not answered in this report, please contact us at theaddress below, so that we can try to answer them.

Parking Customer and Communications OfficerParking ServicesCivic Centre

Rochester Wing R75BromleyKent Ben StephensBR1 3UH Head of Parking Services

For your information, a glossary of terms that explains some words and phrases canbe found at the back of this report.

1 INTRODUCTION

oduced since the introduficant changes to parking. I


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IST OLEBromley is situated in South East London - flanked by the London Boroughs of

Croydon, Lewisham, Southwark, Lambeth, Greenwich and Bexley. It also hasborders with Tandridge (Surrey) and Sevenoaks (Kent). Geographically it is thelargest of the London Boroughs; its major centres of population are Bromley,Orpington, Beckenham, Penge, West Wickham, Chislehurst, Petts Wood and BigginHill. It is of an urban nature to the North and approximately half its area (mainly in theSouth and East) is rural and Green Belt.

The Borough has a population of almost 300,000. There are 3,500 streets in theBorough, comprising of 550 miles of highway (60 miles of which is yellow lined). Themain Controlled Parking Zone is in Bromley Town Centre and consists of an innerand an outer zone. Controlled Parking Zones also operate in Beckenham, Orpington

and the Burnt Ash Lane area of Bromley. There are also: 1,653 on-street pay and display bays serviced by 254 pay and display

machines; 4 multi-storey car parks (MSCPs) operated by the London Borough of

Bromley, providing a total of 2,423 parking spaces; 30 surface car parks (4 of which are currently free, 1 disabled only and 1

permit holders only); 2 commercial vehicle parks; and 1 coach park.

Two arterial designated Red Routes run through the Borough (A21 and A232) and ashort section of the A20 clips its Northeast boundary. There are good transport linksto Central London, which is approximately 9 miles from Bromley.

The main shopping areas are Bromley and Orpington Town Centres withapproximately 90,000 and 25,000 daily shoppers respectively. Other significantshopping areas are at Beckenham, Penge and West Wickham.

In October 1993, the control and enforcement of all on-street parking throughout theBorough (except for the designated red routes) was taken over by the LondonBorough of Bromley. The Police were responsible for control and enforcement

before this date. Enforcement was carried out under the 1991 Road Traffic Act until31st March 2008 when it was replaced by the Traffic Management Act 2004.

In October 2003, we began using closed circuit television (CCTV) as a parkingenforcement tool to issue penalties to motorists for the contravention of being in abus lane. Currently 10 dedicated bus lane enforcement cameras are used to enforce7 bus lanes within the Borough. These cameras and other networked camerashave been used since November 2005 to enforce parking restrictions in congestedareas. The aim is to prevent vehicles causing traffic hazards and delays and jeopardising the safety of pedestrians. The experience of using CCTV alongsidetraditional enforcement methods has proved to be an excellent operational tool that

compliments traditional methods.

2 BACKGROUND TO PARKING IN THE LONDON BOROUGHOF BROMLEY


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We provide public parking facilities to assist with traffic management andenvironmental improvements. The on-street facilities (typically those located by thekerbside) and off-street facilities (within our car parks) are distributed throughout theBorough. The facilities are paid for completely by the users. Maximum length of stayrestrictions are generally structured to promote short-term parking and high turnover ofspaces in town centres, but a degree of long-term parking is permitted in the outerareas and our car parks to meet the needs of different motorists, such as commuters.

There are currently 254 pay and display machines located in various roads and carparks throughout the Borough. These have been provided by the company Parkeonand are solar powered, therefore they do not need an electrical source in order tooperate. Payment to these machines can only be made by coins (5p, 10p, 20p, 50p,1 and 2) and payment is pre-paid.

Pay on foot is the term used for the method of payment in our three multi-storey carparks in Bromley town centre. The machines have been provided by the companyAlfia Limited. Payment to these machines can be made by coins (5p, 10p, 20p, 50p,1 and 2) or by 5, 10 and 20 currency notes and payment is made on exit.

Table 1 shows the on-street controlled parking stock in Bromley town centre and thetariffs that applied during the period 1st April 2007 to 31st March 2008.

Table 1

Bromley town centre

Length of stay

Number of

Spaces

Tariff

3 OVERVIEW OF PARKING PROVISION AND STRATEGY

2 hour bays 177 1.00 per hour4 hour bays 236 0.80 per hourNo limit 337 0.50 per hour

Table 2 shows the on-street controlled parking stock in other areas of the Boroughand the tariffs that applied during the period 1st April 2007 to 31st March 2008.

Table 2

Other areas of the BoroughLength of stay

Number ofSpaces

Tariff(Minimum 0.30 per hour -

Maximum 0.60 per hour)2 hour bays 507 Location specific3 hour bays 116 Location specific4 hour bays 136 Location SpecificNo limit 137 Location Specific

1. Principles of Parking - provision

The structured use of car parking controls is an essential tool in helping tobalance competing demands for road space, restraining non-essential traffic,and in encouraging a shift towards more sustainable modes of travel.


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The Councils reasons for introducing and enforcing on-street waiting andloading restrictions are:

to improve the safety of road users;

to assist the smooth flow of traffic and reduce traffic congestion;

to assist and improve bus movement;

to assist in providing a choice of travel mode; to ensure effective loading/unloading for local businesses;

to provide a turnover of available parking spaces in areas of highdemand;

to assist users with special requirements, such as disabled drivers; and

to promote and enhance the health of the local economy.

2. Off-street parking

Off-street car parking also contributes to many of these objectives,

particularly where it is co-ordinated with on-street provision, for example byoffering longer stays than it is possible to offer on-street, and also byproviding capacity which is not available at the kerbside. In general,motorists tend to prefer on-street to off-street parking due to perceptions ofconvenience and security.

3. Park Mark, the Safer Parking Award

Park Mark is an initiative of the Association of Chief PoliceOfficers (ACPO) designed to reduce crime and the fear ofcrime within parking facilities. The Safer Parking Award

Scheme is managed by the British Parking Associationthrough Development Managers and supported by theHome Office, the Scottish Executive and all the PoliceForces in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The primary aim of the scheme is to prevent criminal behaviour within theparking environment. Owners/operators of a parking facility are thereforerequired to adopt an active management strategy to ensure minimaloccurrence of crime.

After assessment, the Police can award Park Mark status to parking

facilities that are properly managed and maintained. These facilities willalso have achieved appropriate standards that contribute to reducing theopportunity for crime, as follows:

surveillance;

lighting;

signage;

cleanliness.

Currently, 21 of the 32 public car parks that we own and maintain have been

awarded Park Mark and we are looking to achieve this status for more ofour car parks in the future. Park Mark has also been awarded to the on-street parking facility in Crofton Road, Locksbottom.

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4. Off-street parking capacities

Table 3 gives the number of spaces for each car park operated by theCouncil and indicates which car parks have been awarded Park Mark

status.

Table 3

Car ParkParkingSpaces

Disabled BaysParkMark

Burnt Ash Lane 101

Chelsfield 70

Churchill Way Coach Park 2 4

Civic Centre Multi Storey 721 21

Coney Hall 27

Cotmandene Crescent 68 Crown Lane 24

Dunbar Avenue 35 2

Fairfield Road 98 5

High Street, Chislehurst 140 2

High Street, West Wickham 119

Homefield Rise 0 15

Hornbrook House 65 2

Lebanon Gardens 28 2

Lennard Road 54 2

Memorial Hall 50 2

Orpington College 83Palace Grove 97

Penge East 56

Plaistow Lane 77

Priory Gardens 13 1

Queensway 48

Ravenswood Avenue 153 4

Red Hill 34 2

South Street 68

St Georges Road, Beckenham 138 2

Station Approach, Hayes 127 3

Station Road, Bromley 83 Station Road, West Wickham 67 2

The Hill Multi Storey 805 6

The Spa, Beckenham 154 16

Village Way Multi Storey 278 5

Wharton Road 16

Westmoreland Road 581 6

West Wickham Leisure Centre 64 2

TOTAL 4,544 106 21


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Parking Services are contacted throughout the year on a wide range of subjects andconcerns that motorists and the public have. This results in the section always beingvery busy. The range of services we provide includes the provision of parking

facilities, enforcement of parking restrictions, the issue of residents parking permits,business permits, visitors vouchers, blue badges, dispensations and suspensions.

1. Parking permits

There are 6 main permit areas within the London Borough of Bromley,including Bromley town centre and Orpington. These have been introducedto ensure that there is a balance between the need for residents to be ableto park near their homes and the needs of other motorists. Some of theseareas have been further divided to allow greater control.

The Bromley town centre Controlled Parking Zone was introduced in 1999with others being implemented over the following years.

There are three types of permit that allow motorists to park in areas/bayswhere controlled parking schemes apply. These are:

residents permits;

business permits;

visitors vouchers.

Our Permit Section processes permit and visitors voucher applications.Table 4 shows the total numbers of permits and visitors voucher booksissued for each area between 1st April 2007 and 31st March 2008.

Table 4

Parking Area ParkingZone

Yearintroduced

Permit cost

Totalnumber of

permitsissued

4 THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE

Bromley Central A 1998 45.00 277Bromley North B 1998 25.00 2,014

Bromley South C 1998 25.00 3,306Ledrington Road D 2003 40.00 2Locksbottom E 2003 55.00 4Locksbottom LB 2003 200.00 35Orpington H 2004 25.00 50Orpington I 2004 55.00 35Burnt Ash Lane North J 2004 25.00 95Bromley Business B/C 2001 75.00 318Beckenham F 2006 60.00 58Visitors Vouchers (books of15)

All Zones *1998 25.00 2,720

Visitors Vouchers(Pensioners) All Zones * 1998 free 1,155

* Residents in zone A can buy visitors vouchers only for zones B and C


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2. The Blue Badge Scheme

This is a national arrangement of parking concessions for people withsevere walking difficulties who travel as drivers or passengers. The schemeallows badge holders to park close to their destination but the nationalconcessions apply to on-street parking only.

A dedicated team of staff based in the Parking Shop are responsible for thereceipt and processing of all blue badge applications. They use Departmentfor Transport guidelines to make decisions on eligibility to join the schemeand issue approximately 3,000 blue badges per year. For furtherinformation, contact our Blue Badge Team on 020 8461 7629.

3. Dispensations and suspensions

A parking dispensation allows a commercial vehicle to park on a waitingrestriction (yellow line) during restricted hours in circumstances where the

vehicle needs to be close to a specific location. For example, for carryingout works that require the driver to park close to a building or site wherecontinuous access is required to load or unload goods or materials.

Our charge for 2007/08 for the issue of a parking dispensation was 12.50per vehicle per week.

A parking suspension allows a motorist to park for a specific purpose in apay and display or meter bay during restricted hours. For example, forcarrying out works that require the driver to park close to a building or sitewhere continuous access is required to load or unload goods or materials.We will also issue a suspension for the placing of a skip (provided that alicence has been obtained from the London Borough of Bromley). When weissue a suspension, we will place signs at the location to clearly indicate toother motorists that the bay has been temporarily removed from service.

Our charge for 2007/08 for the issue of a parking suspension was 25.00per bay per week.

Charges will be waived for applications in connection with funerals, bloodtransfusion, public health screening and domestic removals. In these

circumstances, permission to park must be requested at least 48 hours inadvance and will be subject to assessment to ensure that a parked vehiclewill not cause an obstruction/hazard.

4. Parking enforcement

We have already mentioned the importance of on-street parkingenforcement provided by Vinci Park. To ensure professional and adequateenforcement takes place, an average of 23 Civil Enforcement Officers(CEOs) are deployed per day. The hours of enforcement are primarilybetween 8.30am to 6.30pm when most restrictions are in force. However,

enforcement at other times is also undertaken to ensure a comprehensiveservice is provided. CEOs use up to date technology to issue PenaltyCharge Notices (PCNs) and record photographic images of contraventions.Each CEO is checked through the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and is


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required to pass a rigorous training schedule prior to undertakingenforcement duties.

5. Enforcement requests

We received approximately 1,700 requests for enforcement at specificlocations in the Borough from the general public (approximately 1 per hour)

between 1st April 2007 and 31st March 2008. We passed these details toour enforcement contractor, Vinci Park, and arrangements were made for aCivil Enforcement Officer or our CCTV mobile unit to visit the location. Weare pleased to be able to provide this service and endeavour to respond torequests as quickly as possible, normally the same day. If not, certainly bythe next day. If there is an ongoing problem, the feasibility of more regularenforcement may be investigated.

6. School Crossing Patrols

The School Crossing Patrol Service was first introduced in the 1950s. The

service for the whole of London was run by the Metropolitan Police Serviceuntil April 2000, when it was handed over to Local Authorities. The law givesLocal Authorities the power to provide patrols, although they do not have todo so. However in Bromley, we see it as an important public service andpart of our efforts to reduce casualties. There are 47 primary school sites inthe London Borough of Bromley where School Crossing Patrols are in placeprimarily to help children, their families and carers, cross the road safely ontheir way to and from school. When a patrol displays their stop sign,motorists must stop. If they do not, they are breaking the law. They can facea 1,000 fine and 3 penalty points on their licence, or disqualification.Patrols are allowed to stop traffic for anyone wishing to cross the road so

long as they are operating at their approved site and within their authorisedhours of duty.

7. Who provides the services

Our services are provided by the Parking Team, consisting of 18 dedicatedpermanent members of staff, as listed below.

Head of Parking

Operations Manager

Processing and Representations Manager

Parking ICT Manager and Project Co-ordinator CCTV and Controls Manager

CCTV Enforcement Supervisor

2 CCTV Enforcement Officers

Customer and Communications Officer

Parking Inspector

Complaints and Information Officer

Senior Parking Officer

Finance Officer

Appeals Officer

Bailiff Officer 3 Parking Officers (dealing with appeals and administration with

temporary contract/agency staff employed from time to time asrequired)


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1. Traffic Management Act 2004

On 31st March 2008, the Government replaced Decriminalised ParkingEnforcement (DPE) across the country with Civil Parking Enforcement (CPE),

which is carried out under the Traffic Management Act 2004 (TMA).The new legislation represents the largest single shift in the way parkingenforcement is conducted since the Road Traffic Act 1991. TheGovernments aim is to provide consistency by creating a single frameworkfor parking regulations across the country. It ensures a fair system is in placeand requires councils to be more transparent and accountable.

In line with the new legislation, we have introduced many changes to the waywe deal with appeals and enforce parking regulations, for example:

a. Challenges received prior to the issue of a Notice to Owner orEnforcement Notice must now be dealt with; prior to TMA, this wasoptional. However, we had already adopted this practice prior to the newlegislation.

b. Representations can now be made in response to a Penalty ChargeNotice for a parking contravention that is enforced by CCTV and issued bypost. In these cases, we will not issue a Notice to Owner.

c. A Penalty Charge Notice no longer needs to be placed on a vehicle, orhanded to a driver to be properly served.

d. Parking Attendants are now known as Civil Enforcement Officers.

Other less obvious changes have taken place; the emphasis driven byCentral Government was on the Local Authoritys duty to show transparencyand fairness, with a move away from inappropriate enforcement. We havewelcomed this approach and have actively looked at how our services can befurther improved in line with the new legislation.

2. Differential parking penalties

5 RECENT CHANGES AND NEW DEVELOPMENTS

Differential parking penalties became a reality on 1st July 2007 following theapproval of the Mayor for London and the agreement of the Secretary ofState.

The Governments aim is to make the system fairer. Higher penalties areissued to motorists who park where it is not generally permitted. Forexample, on yellow lines, the footway, school "Keep Clear" markings, or inresidents, permit or disabled bays without displaying the appropriate permitor badge.

The less serious contraventions, which incur the lower charge, includecontraventions such as, overstaying time paid for in a pay and display bay, orparking outside bay markings.

In circumstances where a driver parked in a permit bay and submits evidencein the form of a visitors voucher valid for the date of the contravention, we will


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accept the evidence as confirmation that the driver was visiting a resident and

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the lower charge will apply.

3. The Smart car (mobile CCTV unit)

Between June and December 2007,enforcement trials began using a Smart car

carrying recording equipment. The primary aimwas to alleviate the problems caused by vehiclesparking incorrectly outside schools in theBorough. The trials proved successful and as aresult, this method of enforcement wasimplemented in April 2008. The yellow zig-zag

es to prevent potentially fatalers can see children entering or

approaching vehicles. By enforcingusing the mobile CCTV unit, drivers are discouraged from parkingdangerously and compromising the safety of children and pedestrians. When

the Smart car is not enforcing outside schools, it is utilised at other locationsthroughout the Borough enforcing pedestrian zig-zags, bus stops and otherparking contraventions.

4. Head cams

We are currently undergoing tests to assess theperformance of Head Cams, which are videocameras that can be attached to headwear orepaulettes (the shoulder-piece of the officersuniform). If the trial is successful, thesedevices will be used by Civil EnforcementOfficers when issuing Penalty Charge Notices.

Our aim is to help:

a. establish training requirements for Civil Enforcement Officers;b. improve the quality of communication to motorists and the general public;c. provide more details of parking contraventions, which will assure fairness,

transparency and accountability in the appeals process and in dealing withcomplaints;

d. provide evidence of physical assaults and verbal abuse on officers.

5. Mobile phone parking

lines are placed outside school entrancaccidents by ensuring approaching drivleaving the school and children can see

Trials using mobile phone technology are continuing to help with the changesto the parking provision in Orpington. Traditional pay and display parking stillapplies in some roads, however to compliment this, drivers can now also payusing their mobile phone within the zone.

Paying for parking using a mobile phone has many benefits, including: no need to find coins;

helping to avoid parking fines due to lost or badly displayed tickets; helping to avoid parking fines whereby the motorist receives a text

message indicating when their time is due to expire (charges apply);


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reducing the need for more pay and display machines thereby reducingclutter and the potential for vandalism;

parking charges by the minute so motorists do not need to guess thepredicted length of stay.

To register with Parkmobile, our electronic parking provider, a simpleregistration process must be completed online or by telephone. The drivers

mobile phone number, vehicle registration number and debit card or creditcard details will be required when registering. Membership of the schemecosts 1 per month, or 20p per parking session. After completing theregistration process, drivers will have access to an online personal pagewhere they can view their parking history and invoices, set up text alerts andreceive other useful information.

Once registered, drivers can activate their parking by calling Parkmobile andinputting the code that appears on signs in the specific street in which theyare parking, ensuring they deactivate when they leave.

The trial in Orpington is coming to an end and this year we are activelylooking at rolling out the concept to all areas of the Borough both on-street, atlocations located by the kerbside and also off-street within our car parks.

6. Card payments in car parks

We have recently upgraded a number of payment machines within the CivicCentre and The Hill multi-storey car parks. The new machines have built incredit card payment facilities. It is our intention to have these machines liveand operational before the end of the calendar year 2008.


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Most people associate Parking tickets and the appeal process with ParkingServices - it certainly evokes strong feeling. Specialist software is used to process

appeals and technology is used to issue PCNs. We aim to be responsive andprovide ample information to assist motorists with their appeals, which weacknowledge can sometimes be stressful and frustrating.

We have made and continue to make changes, so that the experience of making anappeal is clearer and less stressful. These changes include:

speedy replies; nearly all responses to appeals are sent out within 2 weeks;

better use of plain English

less jargon;

more information on the web and on the PCN itself.

We are always looking to improve further, so if you have any suggestions or ideas,please do not hesitate to contact us.

Table 5 gives a breakdown of PCNs according to the method of issue and shows thetotal numbers issued between 1st April 2006 and 31st March 2008 (the figures for theperiod 1st April 2006 to 31st March 2007 are for information and comparison).

Table 5

PCNs issued CCTV(parking

only)

CivilEnforcement

Officers

CCTV(bus lane)

Total

6 STATISTICAL PERFORMANCE AND INFORMATION REGARDINGPENALTY CHARGE NOTICES (PCNs) ISSUED

01/04/06 31/03/07 3,294 67,059 10,390 80,74301/04/07 31/03/08 7,120 67,943 7,136 82,199

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1. Summary of total number of PCNs issued

We issued a total of 82,199 PCNs for the period 1st April 2007 to 31st March2008. The vast majority (67,943) were issued using traditional parkingenforcement methods where a Civil Enforcement Officer (previously knownas a Parking Attendant) served the PCN. This amount is very similar to the

previous year. A total of 7,120 PCNs were issued by CCTV enforcementbetween 1st April 2007 and 31st March 2008 for contraventions such asparking on a loading ban. For the same period, a total of 7,136 PCNs wereissued for bus lane contraventions, which is a reduction of over 3,000 fromthe previous year.

2. On and off-street breakdown of PCNs issued

Each Local Authority has a duty to supply figures to various Governmentdepartments on different types of enforcement and where PCNs wereissued. The Department for Transport requires a breakdown of on and off

street PCNs issued by each authority. On-street is recognised as pay anddisplay bays and yellow line restrictions, etc. Off-street is definedessentially as car parks. The PCNs issued by CCTV shown above areincluded in the number of on-street contraventions.


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Please note that these figures are for the financial year (1st April 2007 31stMarch 2008) and may differ to other publications, as the Department forTransport work to the calendar year (1st January to 31st December).

3. Challenges and representations received

Table 6 shows the total numbers and percentages of challenges andrepresentations received between 1st April 2007 and 31st March 2008.

Table 6

Challenges forPCNs issued01/04/07 31/03/08

Percentage ofchallengesreceived againsttotal PCNs issued

TotalRepresentationsreceived

Percentage oftotalRepresentationsreceived

18,082 21.99% 6,777 8.24%

Between 1st April 2007 and 31st March 2008, we received a total of 18,082

challenges against PCNs, which equates to 21.99% of the total figure ofpenalties issued (82,199). For the same period, a total of 6,777representations were received, which equates to 8.24% of the total figure.

4. Waivers, write-offs and cancellations

Table 7 shows the numbers and percentages of PCNs that were waived,written off and cancelled between 1st April 2007 and 31st March 2008.

Table 7

Waived Written-off Cancelled Total

Number % Number % Number % Number %

3,575 4.35 5,062 6.16 1,504 1.83 10,141 12.34

A total of 3,575 PCNs were waived during the period; a large proportion ofthis figure (1,167) was due to the motorist displaying their pay and displayticket incorrectly when the PCN was issued, but providing it later to supportan appeal. This subsequently enabled us to prove that it was valid and anattempt had been made to display it in the vehicle when the PCN wasissued.

A total of 5,062 PCNs were written-off during the period; 925 of these werefor penalties returned by the Royal Mail whereby the keeper did not live atthe address and a new resident provided documentary evidence thatconfirmed they resided at the address.

A total of 1,504 PCNs were cancelled during the period for a variety ofreasons, such as incorrect vehicle details being recorded at the time of thecontravention.

5. Debt recovery and bailiff action

A total of 8,201 cases were referred to our debt collection bailiff companiesfor the period 1st April 2007 to 31st March 2008. These were cases thatprior to bailiff referral, had not been withdrawn, waived or cancelled and for


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which payment had not been received. There are a number of reasons whybailiffs provide important services, particularly in tracing individuals who areattempting to avoid paying their penalties. Outstanding debts werecollected for approximately 20% of the cases referred to the bailiffs for theperiod.

6. Contravention codes, descriptions, charging levels and zones

Table 8 shows a list contravention codes, descriptions, charging levels,zones and total numbers and percentages of PCNs issued between 1st April2007 and 31st March 2008 per contravention code.


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Code Contravention Description DifferentialCharging Level

Within BromleyControlled Parking

Zone

OuCon

26 Vehicle parked more than 50cm from the edge of the carriagewayand not within a designated parking place

Higher 120

27 Parked adjacent to a dropped footway Higher 120

30 Parked for longer than permitted Lower 80 34 Being in a bus lane Higher

Moving TrafficContravention

120*

35 Parked in a disc parking place without clearly displaying a validdisc

Lower 80

36 Parked in a disc parking place for longer than permitted Lower 80

40 Parked in a designated disabled persons parking place withoutclearly displaying a valid disabled persons badge

Higher 120

41 Parked in a parking place designated for diplomatic vehicles Higher 120

42 Parked in a parking place designated for police vehicles Higher 120

45 Parked on a taxi rank Higher 120

46 Stopped where prohibited (on a red route or clearway) Higher 120 47 Stopped on a restricted bus stop/stand Higher 120

48 Stopped in a restricted area outside a school Higher 120

49 Parked wholly or partly on a cycle track Higher 120

55 A commercial vehicle parked in a restricted street in contraventionof the Overnight Waiting ban

Higher 120

56 Parked in contravention of a commercial vehicle waiting restriction Higher 120

57 Parked in contravention of a coach ban Higher 120

61 A heavy commercial vehicle wholly or partly parked on a footway,verge or land between two carriageways

Higher 120

62 Parked with one or more wheels on any part of an urban road otherthan a carriageway (footway parking)

Higher 120

63 Parked with engine running where prohibited Lower 80 70 Parked in a loading area during restricted hours without reasonableexcuse

Higher 120

73 Parked without payment of the parking charge Lower 80

74 Using a vehicle in a parking place in connection with the sale oroffering or exposing for sale of goods when prohibited

Higher 120

80 Parked for longer than the maximum period permitted Lower 60**

81 Parked in a restricted area in a car park Higher 100**


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Code Contravention Description DifferentialCharging Level

Within BromleyControlled Parking

Zone

OuCon

82 Parked after expiry of paid for time Lower 60**

83 Parked in a car park without clearly displaying a valid pay anddisplay ticket

Lower 60**

84 Parked with additional payment made to extend the stay beyondtime first purchased

Lower 60**

85 Parked in a permit bay without clearly displaying a valid permit Higher 100**

86 Parked beyond bay markings Lower 60**

87 Parked in a disabled persons parking space without clearlydisplaying a valid disabled persons badge

Higher 100**

89 Vehicle parked exceeds maximum weight and/or height and/orlength permitted in the area

Higher 100**

90 Re-parked within one hour of leaving a bay or space in a car park Lower 60**

91 Parked in a car park or area not designated for that class of vehicle Higher 100**

92 Parked causing obstruction Higher 100**

93 Parked in a car park when closed Lower 60**

94 Parked in a pay & display car park without clearly displaying twovalid pay and display tickets when required

Lower 60**

95 Parked in a parking place for a purpose other than the designatedpurpose for the parking place

Lower 80

96 Parked with engine running where prohibited Lower 80

99 Stopped on a pedestrian crossing and/or crossing area marked byzig-zags

Higher 120

* Please note that moving traffic contraventions are not affected by Bromleys Controlled Parking Zone and therefore only one ch** Please note that the differential level of charge relating to car park contraventions is the same whether they occur within or outs


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1. Parking income and expenditure

Parking enforcement income has always been a contentious issue and

we often hear the term it is just a money making exercise. Hopefully theinformation below will go some way to explaining some of themisconceptions about parking income both from PCNs and car parkingcharges.

Under section 55 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 as modified byregulation 25 of the Civil Enforcement of Parking Contraventions(England) General Regulations 2007, each Local Authority is obliged topublish their accounts. The income and expenditure figures for ourparking account are illustrated overleaf. If you require further information,please contact us.

Ideally we would like to be in the position of not having to issue any PCNs.However, this will only happen if drivers comply with parking regulations,traffic regulations and road signs and, of course, are never late back totheir vehicle after their pay and display ticket has expired.

The benefits of compliance include improved road safety, better vehicularmovement and clearer access for pedestrians and individuals withdisabilities. Other less obvious benefits include an enhanced localeconomy, for example, turnover of parking bays outside shops with time

limited bays and the effect of less congestion on the environment.

The charges for PCNs are not set by Local Authorities, but by theSecretary of State, however we have the responsibility for enforcement.

We enforce to a level that aims to encourage compliance but cannot beviewed or demonstrated as being over zealous. It is therefore beyond ourcontrol that financial surpluses are made, due to the number of parkingcontraventions that take place within the Borough against the cost ofenforcing.

Under current legislation, any surplus is limited to meeting the cost ofproviding and maintaining parking facilities, highways and streetimprovement schemes, traffic management schemes, highwaysmaintenance and public transport services. Here at Bromley, theremainder of the surplus from parking charges and income from PCNs isallocated as our contribution to the Freedom Pass, which helps peopleaged 60 or over to travel around London.

The charging for parking spaces on and off-street is less contentious. Ouraim is to remain competitive in our pricing, but to charge according to the

costs of managing our parking stock/spaces in line with approvedstrategies, as described in chapter 3.

7 FINANCIAL INFORMATION 2007/2008


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2. Parking Place Reserve Account

Table 9 shows the Parking Place Reserve Account - actual expenditure andincome for the year ending 31st March 2008.

Table 9

PARKING PLACE RESERVE ACCOUNT

LONDON BOROUGH OF BROMLEY

ACTUAL EXPENDITURE AND INCOME FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31ST MARCH 2008

Description

Off-Street

Enforcement

On-street

Parking

On-Street

Enforcement

Permit

Parking

Disabled

parking TOTAL

Expenditure

Running Expenses 372,537 512,365 1,447,329 297,801 9,638 2,639,670

Recharges 168,384 23,130 (298) 191,216

372,537 680,749 1,447,329 320,931 9,341 2,830,886Total Expenditure

Income

Parking Fees - meters etc. 0 (1,919,047) 0 (195,765) (9,341) (2,124,153)

Other income 0 (9,500) 0 0 0 .(9,500)

Parking Charge Notices (378,651) (2,529,086) (382,827) 0 (3,290,564)

(378,651) (1,928,547) (2,529,086) (578,592) (9,341) (5,424,217)Total Income

(6,114) (1,247,798) (1,081,757) (257,661) 0 (2,593,331)Net Expenditure

Defrayed expenditure

The surplus on "on-street parking" in 2007/08 is Cr 2,593,331

The following expenditure is therefore off set against this surplus:

Traffic Management schemes 59,127

Maintenance of car parks 282,728

Improvement Schemes 198,511Park and Ride 31,627

Proportion of Concessionary Fares 2,021,337

2,593,331

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The glossary below, which is in alphabetical order, explains some terms andphrases in the Annual Report that may be unfamiliar to you.

CANCELLATIONS

A PCN is cancelled when we consider that it has been issued in error and close thecase without accepting payment.

CIVIL ENFORCEMENT OFFICER (CEO)

This is a designated name given by the Traffic Management Act 2004 to thoseofficers engaged by councils to issue Penalty Charge Notices. CEOs (formerlyknown as Parking Attendants) may be employed directly by the Council or through aspecialist contractor.

CONTRAVENTION

A contravention is failure by a motorist to comply with traffic or parking regulations.

CONTROLLED PARKING ZONE (CPZ)

This is an area where parking is restricted during certain times of the day. The mainaim of a CPZ is to ensure that parking spaces within the zone are managed tobalance the needs of residents and other motorists. In a CPZ the restrictions are

shown by signs placed on all vehicular entry points to the zone. Signs are onlyrequired within the zone where the restrictions are different from those on the entrysigns. There will not usually be a sign for a yellow line where the restrictions are thesame as on the entry signs.

DECRIMINALISED

In October 1993, parking enforcement was decriminalised across the LondonBorough of Bromley. This means that it is no longer illegal to park in breach ofregulations. Enforcement of most of the on-street parking regulations is now thesole responsibility of the Local Authority rather than of the Police. Non-compliance

is treated as a civil offence rather than a criminal offence. Ultimately unpaid PenaltyCharge Notices are pursued by debt collection agencies, rather than through thecriminal courts.

DIFFERENTIAL PARKING PENALTIES

This is the name given to the changes in the levels of charging for penaltiesimplemented by the Government on 1st July 2007 to make the system fairer. Higherlevel charges apply to contraventions that are considered serious and lower levels tothose that are considered less serious.

8 GLOSSARY OF TERMS


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ENFORCEMENT NOTICE

An Enforcement Notice is a statutory notice served by the authority to the personthey believe is the owner of a vehicle issued with a Penalty Charge Notice. Thisnotice is only served for bus lane contraventions if the penalty remains unpaid

after 28 days. Within 28 days of the Enforcement Notice, the owner is required toeither:

make payment of the full penalty charge; or

make representations against liability for the charge.

MULTI-STOREY CAR PARK (MSCP)

A multi-storey car park is a building that has a number of floors or levels designedspecifically for vehicle parking.

NOTICE TO OWNER (NTO)

A Notice to Owner is a statutory notice served by the authority to the person theybelieve is the owner of a vehicle issued with a Penalty Charge Notice. This notice isserved for parking contraventions where a penalty issued by a CEO remainsunpaid after 28 days. Within 28 days of the Notice to Owner, the owner is required toeither:

make payment of the full penalty charge; or

make representations against liability for the charge.

OFF-STREET PARKING

Off-street parking facilities are those within car parks.

ON-STREET PARKING

On-street parking facilities are those by the kerbside

ORDER FOR RECOVERY OF UNPAID PENALTY CHARGE

This is an order for recovery of an unpaid penalty charge which has been registeredwith the Traffic Enforcement Centre (TEC). TEC is currently situated at the CountyCourt in Northampton and is the centre where unpaid penalty charges are registeredas debts at the County Court. This is an automated process, not requiring, orallowing an appearance by any party and once registration has taken place, the debtcan be passed to a bailiff for collection of the outstanding monies.

PAY ON FOOT

Pay on foot is a method of payment for parking in a car park bay whereby on arrivalthe driver stops at the barrier, takes a ticket and parks their car. On leaving, thedriver inserts the ticket in a pay station and pays the parking charge. He/She then

takes back the ticket, drives to the barrier, inserts the ticket and the barrier lifts forexit.

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PARKING ATTENDANT (PA)

This is a designated name given by the Road Traffic Act 1991 to those officersengaged by councils to issue Penalty Charge Notices. PAs (now known as CivilEnforcement Officers, CEOs) may be employed directly by the council or through a

specialist contractor. When parking enforcement was the responsibility of thePolice, these officers were known as Traffic Wardens.

PENALTY CHARGE NOTICE

This is a notice issued because a vehicle has allegedly contravened a parking or buslane regulation. A Penalty Charge Notice must contain certain information, includinga description of the contravention alleged to have occurred.

REGISTERED KEEPER

This is the person or organisation recorded at the Driver and Vehicle LicensingAgency (DVLA) as being the keeper of a vehicle. Under the concept of ownerliability, the registered keeper is presumed to be the owner of the vehicle for thepurposes of enforcement, appeal and debt recovery action.

REPRESENTATION

A representation is a challenge against a Penalty Charge Notice after a Notice toOwner or Enforcement Notice has been issued.

SPECIAL PARKING AREA (SPA)

This is an area in which most on-street parking contraventions have beendecriminalised. The area is established by a highway authority to enable the LocalAuthoritys Civil Enforcement Officers to put parking controls in place.

WAIVERS

A PCN is waived when we accept mitigating circumstances and close the casewithout accepting payment.

WRITE-OFFS

A PCN is written-off when we are unable to pursue the penalty and close the casewithout accepting payment. This may be when the DVLA has no information aboutthe registered keeper, or even after our bailiff companies have attempted to collectthe debt without success.

LB Bromley Parking Annual Report 20072008

Documents