Issue - meetings

Matter for Decision

To consider the authorisation of Officers to negotiate and agree the terms and conditions of a new agency agreement between Cambridge City Council and Cambridgeshire County Council for the management of Civil Enforcement in Cambridge.

Decision of Executive Councillor for Planning Policy & Transport

     i.        Resolved to delegate authority to the Parking Services Commercial Operations Manager in consultation with the Executive Councillor, Head of Finance and the Head of Legal Practice, to negotiate and agree the terms and conditions of a new agency agreement between Cambridge City Council and Cambridgeshire County Council, to enforce parking restrictions in City Council car parks and parking spaces covered by the City of Cambridge (Off-Street Parking Places) Order 2017.

    ii.        The delegated enforcement would include the recovery of penalty charges for a period of up to 5 years from 1 July 2017.

Reason for the Decision

As set out in the Officer’s report.

Any Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Not applicable.

Scrutiny Considerations

The Committee received a report from the Parking Services, Commercial Operations Manager, which outlined the powers Cambridgeshire County Council had to enforce restrictions in the off-street car parking that belonged to the City Council. 

Since 2010, the County Council had enforced the City Council’s parking restrictions in relation to its off-street parking as the Council’s agent.  It was intended to renew this arrangement and therefore to enable the County Council to operate those powers as its agent for the City under a new Agency agreement. 

The Commercial Operations Manager said the following in response to Members’ questions:

     i.        To ensure a quality service from the County Council the new agreement proposed that quarterly meetings between the two local authorities would become monthly.

    ii.        City Council Car Parking Attendants independently observed the Enforcement Officers when present on site.

   iii.        Checks on parking bays for the disabled and blue badges were carried out on a regular basis by the Parking Enforcement Team. 

  iv.        Surplus and deficits shown in the yearly accounts were measured by the actual cost.

The Committee resolved (unanimously) to endorse the recommendations.

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendation.

Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Executive Councillor (and any Dispensations Granted)

No conflicts of interest were declared by the Executive Councillor.