Agenda item - School parking enforcement

Report of the Executive Director, Economy, Environment & Culture

1)            That Committee agrees to increase by three the number of Civil Enforcement Officers (CEO) employed to cover school parking enforcement.

2)            That Committee agrees that the ‘Anti-social parking at schools – support and advice’ webpage (www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/school-parking-advice) becomes the one point of contact point and guidance for schools, residents and councillors wishing to find out steps to take if there is a problem in their area. 

3)            That Committee agrees to the School Travel Team making schools aware that the one point of contact webpage is available for support and advice, on an annual basis to coincide with the beginning of the school year. 

4)            That Committee requests the Executive Director, Economy, Environment & Culture to bring a report back to the next available  Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee advising on the options to introduce Traffic Regulation Orders that will give Civil Enforcement Officers instant fine capability in suitable locations and at suitable times of the day in areas around all schools.

2.5      That Committee requests the Executive Director, Economy, Environment & Culture to bring a report back to the next available Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee advising on options to provide body worn cameras for School Crossing Patrol officers.

69.1      The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director, Economy, Environment & Culture that set out evaluated options on proposed changes to school parking enforcement following a committee request to investigate the matter.

69.2      Councillor West stated that anti-social parking and related behaviour was a serious issue in the city and he believed there had to be an enhancement of enforcement activity and instant fining would be a better deterrent than the issuing of warnings.

69.3      On behalf of the Conservative Group, Councillor Wares moved a motion to add recommendation 2.4 and 2.5 as set out in bold italics below:

2.4       That Committee requests the Executive Director, Economy, Environment & Culture to bring a report back to the next Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee advising on the options to introduce Traffic Regulation Orders that will give Civil Enforcement Officers instant fine capability in suitable locations and at suitable times of the day in areas around all schools.

2.5       That Committee requests the Executive Director, Economy, Environment & Culture to bring a report back to the next Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee advising on options to provide body worn cameras for School Crossing Patrol officers.

69.4      Introducing the motion, Councillor Wares welcomed the report that had arisen from a letter to the committee from Councillor Janio and himself. Councillor Wares stated that the intention of the first part of the motion was to investigate the introduction of loading bans in locations outside schools that would effectively create an enforcement area and allow for instant penalty notices to be issued and prevent anti-social parking. The second element of the motion would consider issuing body worn cameras to School Crossing Patrol officers as a means to protect them from the physical and verbal abuse that had become excessive.

69.5      Councillor Janio formally seconded the motion adding that he had made a visit to Goldstone School and had witness dangerous and anti-social parking first-hand.

69.6      Councillor Robins stated that he was supportive of the recommendations and Conservative Group motion however; he did fear that issuing body worn cameras to School Crossing Patrol officers may lead to recruitment difficulties due to safety fears.

69.7      Councillor Littman welcomed the report recommendations that outlined action that clearly needed to be taken. Councillor Littman commended the work of the School Travel Team and he hoped that more people would use their service if anti-social parking could be prevented. Councillor Littman relayed his apprehension concerning recommendation 2.5 of the Conservative Group motion and he believed it correct for the committee to receive a further report outlining the positives and negatives of issuing body worn cameras to School Crossing Patrol officers.

69.8      In response to the comments made relating to body worn cameras, Councillor Wares suggested that better safety protection for School Crossing Patrol officers may in fact have the inverse effect and boost recruitment.

69.9      Councillor Atkinson stated that he supported the recommendations and as with other Members, he had witness bizarre parking behaviour around schools. Councillor Atkinson believed the problem was caused by a minority of residents and many parents would welcome increased enforcement.

69.10   The Chair stated that she had been advised by officers that the requests detailed in the motion would require some work and it may not be possible to present a report to the next meeting. The Chair proposed that the motion be amended to read “next available Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee” with a view to receiving the report to the meeting in October 2018.

69.11   The Committee were in agreement with the proposal.

69.12   The Chair put the motion, as amended to the vote which passed.

69.13   The Chair put the recommendations, as amended to the vote which passed.

69.14   RESOLVED-

1)            That Committee agrees to increase by three the number of Civil Enforcement Officers (CEO) employed to cover school parking enforcement.

2)            That Committee agrees that the ‘Anti-social parking at schools – support and advice’ webpage (www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/school-parking-advice) becomes the one point of contact point and guidance for schools, residents and councillors wishing to find out steps to take if there is a problem in their area. 

3)            That Committee agrees to the School Travel Team making schools aware that the one point of contact webpage is available for support and advice, on an annual basis to coincide with the beginning of the school year. 

4)            That Committee requests the Executive Director, Economy, Environment & Culture to bring a report back to the next available  Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee advising on the options to introduce Traffic Regulation Orders that will give Civil Enforcement Officers instant fine capability in suitable locations and at suitable times of the day in areas around all schools.

5)            That Committee requests the Executive Director, Economy, Environment & Culture to bring a report back to the next available Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee advising on options to provide body worn cameras for School Crossing Patrol officers.