Agenda item - School Parking Enforcement Review Report

Report of the Executive Director Economy, Environment & Culture

1)            That Committee notes the progress of the employment of three additional Civil Enforcement Officers for school parking enforcement.

2)            That Committee notes the reporting of antisocial behaviour is promoted and encouraged by School Crossing Patrol Officers and the wider school community and officers will continue to monitor trials of body worn cameras on school crossing patrols in West Sussex.

3)            That Committee notes that the School Travel Team within City Transport is working with Sustrans and Living Streets to encourage behaviour change and to provide effective school parking enforcement with the Parking Strategy and Contracts Team.

59.1      The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director, Economy, Environment & Culture that detailed the review of school parking enforcement including progress of the additional Civil Enforcement Officers (CEO’s) employed and consideration of alternative options to assist in school parking enforcement.

59.2      Councillor Littman noted that less than half of the 21 School Crossing Patrol Officer positions were currently filled and asked how long the positions had been vacant and to what extent the council offered the role as a job share. Councillor Littman highlighted that he had received anecdotal feedback from residents living around Balfour Primary School that enforcement action outside schools was not often taken and CEO’s were not often present and asked for comment upon that. Furthermore, Councillor Littman noted that there was a proposed £5,000 budget cut to the Sustrans Bike It project and asked what impact that would likely have.

59.3      The Head of Parking Services replied that the role of CEO’s was not only to issue parking tickets but also to move traffic on however; officers would look at activity in the specific area. In relation to School Crossing Patrol Officer’s, the Senior Project Officer explained that a review was currently underway to consider whether all 21 sites met the relevant criteria for a position and subsequent to that, a recruitment drive was planned however job shares were not currently offered. An increase in vacancies for such positions was a national trend and discussions were being held with school to consider whether caretaker roles could be expanded or combined to include crossing patrols. The Assistant Director, City Transport answered that budget proposals were taken by Members and any decision could not be pre-empted however; there was a Sustrans Officer in the School Travel team providing dedicated support.

59.4      Councillor Wares stated that whilst he welcomed progress made in some areas, in other areas there appeared a constant re-visiting with little progress made. Councillor Wares noted that whilst fines were increasing, no evidence was presented as to how behaviour change was being instigated to permanently resolve the issue. Councillor Wares added that difficulties in recruiting crossing patrol officers was a perpetual problem and queried whether this could be related to the hostility often directed toward them. Councillor Wares noted that three out of the seven staff consulted on the matter answered that they wished to wear body worn cameras and Councillor Wares expressed his belief that those who did should be given an opportunity to as a duty of care. In relation to the comments made at paragraph 5.3 of the report, Councillor Wares stated that the alternative proposed was the start point for the review and clearly, existing procedures were not working. Councillor Wares supplemented that paragraph 5.4 was unclear on the measures taken with schools, parents and the community and he asked for clarification on when and how these actions would be taken. Referring to paragraphs 6.1 and 6.2 of the report, Councillor Wares stated that the action taken to date had not been robust as stated and there was no evidence to say that body worn cameras were not a practical and effective way to reduce incidents as it had not yet been tried.

59.5      The Chair stated that a written reply detailing the measures taken with schools, parents and the community would be provided after the meeting.

59.6      Councillor Peltzer Dunn stated his dissatisfaction with the report that made no firm proposals and had a negative outlook. Councillor Peltzer Dunn queried why West Sussex County Council could implement a trail of body worn cameras yet this council were not prepared to. In addition, Councillor Peltzer Dunn expressed his concern that the review of sites was intended as a method to reduce the number of crossing patrol officers and the criteria itself should be reviewed. Furthermore, Councillor Peltzer Dunn stated that the legal advice detailed at paragraph 5.5 was confusing as anybody being photographed would necessarily have their privacy invaded.

59.7      The Legal Officer replied that a more detailed briefing on the legislation and advice could be provided after the meeting.

59.8      Councillor Brown asked if there was any evidence that parking outside schools was changing, particularly behavioural change.

59.9      The Head of Parking Services stated that it was difficult to measure behavioural change however; officers would look at collating more data on the schools visited, the approach taken and the view from schools on if the situation has improvedand the result and provide this to Members.

59.10   Councillor West stated that he had unimpressed with the report as the only measure of success appeared to be the number of Penalty Charge Notices (PCN’s) issued and the conclusion had been made that robust action had been taken with no evidence or measure to qualify that as true. In addition, Councillor West stated that there was no assessment of the lasting effect of increased enforcement and enforcement itself only appeared to take place outside school gates and not also in surrounding streets where the situation could be the same.

59.11   The Chair stated that the a commitment had been made to bring a report back  to the committee on the outcome of the trial of body worn cameras in West Sussex and that report could cover other matters such as those raised in this meeting.

59.12   Councillor Robins stated his experience on the matter as ward councillors did not indicate that the absence of body worn cameras were the main hindrance to recruitment of School Crossing Patrol Officers and instead disruptive hours were identified as a common obstacle.

59.13   RESOLVED-

1)            That Committee notes the progress of the employment of three additional Civil Enforcement Officers for school parking enforcement.

2)            That Committee notes the reporting of antisocial behaviour is promoted and encouraged by School Crossing Patrol Officers and the wider school community and officers will continue to monitor trials of body worn cameras on school crossing patrols in West Sussex.

3)            That Committee notes that the School Travel Team within City Transport is working with Sustrans and Living Streets to encourage behaviour change and to provide effective school parking enforcement with the Parking Strategy and Contracts Team.