GLA probe into London parking

In this story: What's under investigation, and why? Rapid response Investigation's implications Sneaking suspicions Bringing balance

The issue of parking fines and what councils do with the money they make from them has been creeping up the political agenda for months. The London media and the Evening Standard in particular have published the motorist side of story after story about inflexible and unfair parking regimes in different parts of London. Now the Greater London Assembly's (GLA) Transport Committee has launched an investigation into parking enforcement.

But what exactly is the GLA investigating, and why? How have other local authorities reacted? What are the implications for Kensington and Chelsea - and could it change the way the Council treats motorists in the borough?

What's under investigation, and why?

The GLA has said its investigation aims to look at parking controls and enforcement. It has asked local authorities to provide it with a range of information including:

• the revenues raised from parking
• the costs of parking operations
• the number of penalty notices issued, vehicles clamped and removed
• the procedures for appeals
• the safety and security of parking attendants

However, right from the very start of the Transport Committee's investigation in September, the Chairman Lynne Featherstone claimed it was there to find out whether councils are targeting motorists as a money-making venture, or whether wardens are preventing illegal parking and helping to keep traffic flowing.

Rapid response

Even before the GLA's announcement, some central London councils were coming up with new policies and practices to counter negative publicity. News of the GLA investigation though sparked even more reports in the London media including:

Westminster City Council - ordered a new 'softly-softly' approach in May and overhauled its incentive scheme for parking attendants. It estimated the new approach would reduce its parking revenues by £6.1 million.

Camden Council - issued new guidelines to its parking control contractor in October, telling it to improve pay and training for parking attendants.

Investigation's implications

With the flak flying, did Kensington and Chelsea follow suit and change its approach? The answer is NO:

Parking controls

Following the rapid growth in Sunday shopping the need to extend parking controls has also grown. The Council has listened to the growing tide of resident concerns and is now due to consult on extending parking controls on Sundays and bank holidays. Starting this month, the Council will embark on a programme to consult all residents on parking controls in their street.

Firm but fair

The Council insists it will not go soft on illegal parking and that it has a 'firm but fair' approach. However, in December it revealed it had issued 9,000 warning notices to residents last year when a normal penalty charge notice could have been given instead.

By showing it had waived potential income of £900,000 the Council hoped to counter claims that all London parking authorities are over-zealous in their pursuit of revenues.

Media hype

Kensington and Chelsea has for the most part avoided the negative parking stereotypes in the press, and it continues with business as usual. At the same time, other local authorities are looking at the Council's procedures in order to benchmark their own.

As well, the Council has an overall good story to tell residents. It remains the only borough in London - apart from the Corporation of London - where parking controls operate in every street and resident's parking permits are valid throughout the borough.

Sneaking suspicions

Despite all this, there is a sneaking suspicion that the GLA's parking probe is the tip of an iceberg. Concerns have been raised that a London-wide parking service could be proposed next if the public debate on parking continues unchecked.

This clearly poses a threat to local parking controls. The impact for residents of a centralised system would certainly be emphatic. All borough parking could be replaced with zoned parking as in every other London borough. Other local arrangements designed to reduce confusion and to minimise fines could be forced to comply with a central scheme.

Equally uncertain and worrying for the Council is what would happen to parking revenues if a London-wide system was introduced.

Bringing balance

The future is unclear and while the concerns outlined above may be pessimistic they are by no means out of the question. The Council therefore wants to inject more balance into the debate about parking. It will be watching out for the Transport Committee's report of course, but in the meantime it is keen to remind people what its parking service is about: firm control of illegal parking; and the best service for residents.

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