The House of Commons’ Transport Select Committee has published a report on their inquiry into local parking enforcement and is a Must Read for all residents in Headington who are exercised by the current situation.

Click here to see the recommendations. These include:

• Motorists should not have to appeal against Parking Charge Notices (PCNs) where tribunal adjudicators have repeatedly identified a problem such as poor signage.
• Adjudicators should also be given powers to allow appeals where local authorities fail to follow statutory guidance.
• While businesses cannot be completely exempt from parking restrictions, local authorities must ensure that the need to restrict parking and manage congestion does not stifle the ability of businesses to trade.
• The Department of Transport’s (DfT) operational guidance should be clarified in relation to rules for loading and unloading.
• That same guidance should stipulate that local authorities implement a grace period of 5 minutes after the expiry of paid for time on all paid parking spaces.
• Cameras can be helpful in parking enforcement but they should not be used as a matter of routine.
• Local authority parking enforcement activities should in general do no more than cover costs. Where high demand for parking gives rise to unintentional surpluses these must be clearly explained.
• The ring fence around parking revenues should not be removed.
• Annual parking reports should be made mandatory for all local authorities so that information on parking is in the public domain.
• Local authorities must work with local businesses to develop innovative parking solutions that work for their area while Government should consider developing business rates relief for businesses that invest in affordable town centre parking solutions.
• If the Workplace Parking Levy scheme in Nottingham proves to be successful the Government should promote the scheme to other local authorities.

County Cllr Roz Smith asked a question about costs and income derived by the County Council from parking enforcement but has not yet received a reply.