Issue - meetings

1.         That the introduction of new agency agreements in line with the terms specified within sections 13-18 of the report submitted be approved and the Assistant Director for Highways, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment, be authorised to finalise details and implement the new agreements. 

2.         That Local Committees will have an oversight and monitoring role for on-street parking enforcement within their area.

3.         That the Assistant Director for Highways, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment, be authorised to enter into suitable alternative short term arrangements to ensure continuation of on-street parking enforcement in the event that such arrangements become necessary.

Reason for Decisions

To ensure the County Council effectively and efficiently manages on-street parking in Surrey.

[The decisions on this item can be called in by the Environment and Transport Select Committee]

The Cabinet considered proposals for how the County Council would manage the future enforcement and administration of civil parking enforcement within Surrey.  Following consultation with the Boroughs and Districts it had been proposed that the County Council enter into long term on-street parking enforcement agency agreements with those councils which were willing to undertake the function. The Local Committees would be given a formal oversight and monitoring role to oversee this area. The Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment reported that each of the eleven borough and district councils in Surrey had indicated their agreement in principle with the proposed arrangements.

Much improvement had been made in the operation, management and financial viability of civil parking enforcement since the County Council first took over this responsibility from Surrey Police. Deficits in enforcement budgets had been addressed and should not resurface. The clear financial arrangements put in place should ensure that operational deficits did not return and that savings were made for residents. It was proposed that any surpluses generated would be distributed between the local committee, the enforcement agent and the County Council on the basis of a 60/20/20 split, although it was noted that this was open to negotiation.

The Chairman of the Environment and Transport Select Committee, Mr Steve Renshaw, addressed the Cabinet on the distribution of surpluses. He welcomed that the distribution split was open to negotiation but questioned the reasoning behind the proposed ratio and stated his opposition to any cross subsidy between borough and district areas. The Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment welcomed the comments which had been received from the Select Committee but disagreed with the suggestion that all surpluses should be retained entirely within the borough or district area. It was important that there was some flexibility, provided by the 20% provision, to enable assistance with general road maintenance in the county.

RESOLVED:

1.         That the introduction of new agency agreements in line with the terms specified within sections 13-18 of the report submitted be approved and the Assistant Director for Highways, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment, be authorised to finalise details and implement the new agreements. 

2.         That Local Committees will have an oversight and monitoring role for on-street parking enforcement within their area.

3.         That the Assistant Director for Highways, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment, be authorised to enter into suitable alternative short term arrangements to ensure continuation of on-street parking enforcement in the event that such arrangements become necessary.

Reason for Decisions

To ensure the County Council effectively and efficiently manages on-street parking in Surrey.