Issue - meetings

That (A) the comments and recommendations of the Council’s Environment Scrutiny Committee be received and noted;

(B)     based on the evidence presented, East Herts Council should continue to manage its car parks on a solely ‘pay and display’ basis; and

(C)    Officers be authorised to commence procurement, obtaining detailed costing and a recommended preferred supplier for ‘pay and display’ in all car parks.

The Executive Member for Economic Development submitted a report seeking approval for the basis of operation of East Herts Council’s new car park management system and its procurement.  He reminded the Executive that the Government had restricted local authorities’ ability to use Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) systems alone to manage their car parks. 

He also referred to the Environment Scrutiny Committee’s consideration of the matter at its meeting held on 8 September 2015.  One of its recommendations was for Officers to consider Gascoyne Way, Hertford and Jackson Square, Bishop’s Stortford, for conversion to “pay on exit” car parks.  The Executive Member advised that this option would present structural difficulties at both car parks as well as having traffic implications.  Informal discussions with Hertfordshire County Council, a statutory consultee in the Traffic Regulation Order process to establish a ‘pay on exit’ operation, had indicated that formal objections would be made on the grounds of impact on traffic management at both sites.  Therefore, this option could not be progressed any further.

However, the Executive Member advised that the new pay and display machines would include developments with credit/debit card payments and “pay by phone and mobile app” options, which would deliver the key benefits of “pay on exit”. 

The Executive Member for Development Management and Council Support, speaking as a Herford Member, expressed her frustration with the Government’s restrictions on the use of ANPR.  Although disappointed with the subsequent recommendation, she acknowledged the difficulties highlighted by the Executive Member for Economic Development.

The Executive approved the recommendations now detailed.

RESOLVED - that (A) the comments and recommendations of the Council’s Environment Scrutiny Committee be received and noted;

(B)      based on the evidence presented, East Herts Council should continue to manage its car parks on a solely ‘pay and display’ basis; and

(C)      Officers be authorised to commence procurement, obtaining detailed costing and a recommended preferred supplier for ‘pay and display’ in all car parks.

The Executive Member for Economic Development submitted a report on the procurement of a new car park management system(s) for its car parks.  He explained that “Pay and Display” was nearing the end of its life and that the Council was looking at options adding that most of the Council’s car parks were too small to support an alternative system, but that the larger ones could possibly be converted to “Pay on Exit”.  The Executive Member for Economic Development explained why the Council had initially chosen to use “Pay and Display” and the options currently under review, including “Pay on Exit”, the advantages of this type of system at larger car parks and how this might affect traffic issues at, for example, Jackson Square in Bishop’s Stortford.

In response to a query from Councillor K Brush regarding current systems, the Head of Information, Customer and Parking Services explained that “Pay on Display” had been used for 11.5 years and that the age on the capital rate outturn was 10 years of use.  At the moment machines were being “cannibalised” for replacement parts and that the costs of repair and maintenance were increasing as more machines failed.  He also explained that the current machines could not be retro-fitted with new debit and credit card technology.

In response to a query from Councillor K Brush, the Parking Manager explained the advantages of “Pay on Exit”.  Councillor Brush queried whether outsourcing car parks or lease hiring the equipment had been considered, adding that committing £1million of capital could be premature given the pace of new technology and suggested that the Council consider outsourcing or a lease arrangement.

Councillor P Phillips sought assurances that “Pay and Display” could confidently be promoted to residents when the feedback he had from previous discussions with residents and businesses strongly favoured ‘Pay on Exit’.  The Parking Manager referred Members to the report in terms of those car parks which were suitable or unsuitable to a “Pay on Exit” arrangement and why.

Councillor K Crofton stated that users must be provided with the best possible service which needed to be as flexible as possible using the best scheme possible.  He assured Members that this was not a “rushed” or “knee-jerk” decision but a thoroughly considered report.  He urged Members to include Jackson Square in Bishop’s Stortford as a “Pay on Exit” scheme.  This was supported.

Councillor P Phillips queried whether the Council should still operate car parks.  The Head of Information, Customer and Parking Services Parking explained the advantages of the Council retaining control over its car parks and the commercial view taken by private operators.  He stated that many of the Council’s smaller car parks were subsidised and these might not be commercially viable to a private operator.

Councillor D Andrews suggested that an “arm’s length” company be established to control car parks.  The Executive Member for Economic Development stated that such an approach would not fit with current legislation on the permitted operation of Council car parks.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 257