Agenda item

Purpose of the report:

To update the committee about new powers being provided by Government, allowing local highway authorities in England to carry out Moving Traffic Enforcement on the highway network.

ADOPTION OF MOVING TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT POWERS  [Item 7]

            Witnesses:

            Matt Furniss, Cabinet Member for Transport & Infrastructure

Katie Stewart, Executive Director for Environment, Transport & Infrastructure

Lucie Monie, Director, Highways & Transport

Richard Bolton, Highways and Operations Infrastructure Group Manager

David Curl, Parking & Traffic Enforcement Manager

Key points raised during the discussion:

1.    A Member asked if items currently on the Integrated Transport Scheme (ITS) list would be revaluated with any requirement to reconfigure a location considered for camera installation instead. The Cabinet Member for Transport & Infrastructure confirmed this and that assessment of the busiest junctions would be prioritised. The Parking & Traffic Enforcement Manager added that if no low-cost solution could be implemented with engineering solutions an enforcement camera could potentially be used instead.   

2.    A Member requested clarification regarding the process to raise locations of concern. The Cabinet Member for Transport & Infrastructure gave highways@surreycc.gov.uk for reporting concerns and noted that the adoption would not come into force until June 2022.

3.    A Member asked if a solution to enforcing pavement parking restrictions would continue to be looked at. The Cabinet Member for Transport & Infrastructure confirmed that there had been no response from the Government following their consultation on pavement parking and that an update would be requested. 

4.    A Member queried if cycle lanes would be included in any forthcoming ban on pavement parking. The Cabinet Member for Transport & Infrastructure confirmed that new rules would apply to mandatory cycle lanes, identified by a solid line.

5.    The Chairman asked what the outcome might be of the review of yellow box junctions. The Parking & Traffic Enforcement Manager confirmed that surveys had been conducted in the previous week and were being analysed for areas suitable for enforcement camera use.

6.    The Chairman asked Officers to consider presenting an All-Member Seminar on this subject. The Cabinet Member for Transport & Infrastructure agreed that a seminar could be presented to members in late summer after powers come into effect in June 2022.

7.    A Member asked if there was a cost to the Council when a camera was turned off. The Cabinet Member for Transport & Infrastructure explained that cameras were not turned off but if they ceased to act as a deterrent, an alternative location would be identified for their use. The cost of cameras covered the technology of image processing software for continual operation. 

8.    A Member asked if the adopted powers would be used across the county so that residents could see that the issue was being tackled. The Cabinet Member for Transport & Infrastructure said that proof was required by the Department for Transport that specific criteria were being followed but when powers had been adopted they could be spread throughout the county as required, following the process set out in the report.

Resolved:

The Select Committee:

1. Supports the draft recommendations to Cabinet outlined in the report.

2. Asks the Cabinet Member/Service to consider arranging an all-Member Seminar on this topic (Adoption of Moving Traffic Enforcement Powers)covering the changes, practical implications, selected sites, associated process and Members’ role.

Requests Cabinet Member to write to the relevant Government Minister for further details about pavement parking.