Agenda item

The Executive Member for Economic Development submitted a report in respect of establishing a policy framework and priorities for the operation of a mobile Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) based parking enforcement service in East Herts.

Members were advised that, since the adoption of Civil Parking Enforcement, the guidelines for enforcement had been revised.  East Herts Council also had a Parking and Transport Strategy and most residents valued the traffic management and safety benefits of Civil Parking Enforcement.

The Parking Manager stated that use of a mobile ANPR vehicle had already been approved by the Council and would be used in line with Secretary of State guidelines, as well as taking account of best practice and relevant statutes.

Members were advised that this vehicle would not be a substitute for Civil Enforcement Officers (CEOs), which often acted as a deterrent to illegal parking.  Members were further advised that the main function of the ANPR vehicle would be to target difficult to reach areas such as school zig zag markings and dangerous junctions.

In response to a query from Councillor B Wrangles, the Parking Manager advised that the Authority was licensed to retain DVLA data for the purposes of mobile ANPR enforcement.  Officers were able to trace a vehicle’s registered keeper and send them a parking contravention notice in the post.  The DVLA data would only be held for as long as was necessary for the purposes of Civil Parking Enforcement.

Councillor B Wrangles commented on whether ANPR would be useful in tackling on-street or pavement parking where this caused an obstruction.  The Parking Manager stated that it was not an offence to park on the footway unless there were single or double yellow lines.  The Police could however enforce under criminal law if a vehicle was obstructing the footway.

Councillor J Wyllie commented on whether the ANPR vehicle could differentiate between a parked vehicle and one which was stationary in a queue of traffic.  The Parking Manager stressed that there was no reason to believe this would become a problem in East Herts.

Councillor R Beeching queried whether the ANPR vehicle and associated technology and running costs would prove to be cost effective.  The Parking Manager stressed that cost effectiveness could be measured as much in safety as in financial figures.  Members were advised that the vehicle would be leased and would address issues residents found particularly offensive and dangerous, such as parking on school zig zag markings.

In response to a concern from Councillor R Beeching, the Parking Manager advised that the vehicle’s ANPR technology would not be used to assist the activities of the police.

Councillor B Wrangles commented on whether the ANPR data could be used to target taxi drivers blocking the footway.  The Parking Manager emphasised that enforcement could only happen if a contravention had occurred.

In response to a query from Councillor M Pope, the Parking Manager stated that making footway parking a contravention would involve enacting a Traffic Regulation Order following a systematic District wide audit.  Officers could then consider a District wide ban with exemptions or localised bans based on a systematic priority list of sites.

The Committee received the report.

RESOLVED – that (A) the report be received: and

(B)   the policy framework and priorities for the operation of a mobile ANPR based enforcement service in East Herts be recommended to the Executive for adoption.