Telford parking enforcement set to be taken over by council
A deal has been agreed which could see responsibility for parking enforcement transferred from the police to Telford & Wrekin Council.
The deal was mutually agreed by council leader Councillor Shaun Davies and the West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion, after Mr Campion raised the possibility of the council taking responsibility for parking enforcement last year.
Councillor Davies was clear that it would be dependent on transitional funding being provided to ease the burden on Telford & Wrekin taxpayers.
Following negotiations, a figure of up to £200,000 of funding over four years was agreed by the PCC.
The plan is subject to public consultation, but if it is adopted responsibility would transfer away from the police – who would have more time to focus on other priorities.
A business case would also have to be submitted to the Department for Transport and any transfer of power to the council would not happen until next summer at the earliest.
Councillor Davies said: “At a time of great demand on both police and council resources, such an adoption of power needs to work for both partners.
“This by no means makes it a done deal as it would be subject to full public consultation, examined by scrutiny and also review and adoption by the Department for Transport – and none of that would be a quick process.”
He added: “The level of funding being talked about would mean that the council would not be dependent on serving a set amount of fixed penalty notices to cover the costs of implementing and running the scheme.
“There would be no change to the policy of free car parking in the borough. As a result, any surplus could be invested in ensuring car parks remain free.”
Mr Campion added: "Almost everywhere in the country, we have seen parking enforcement move away from the police and responsibility for it transferred to councils.
"The change would deliver better services to local communities and would free up considerable police resource.
"I know that parking is an important issue for all our communities.
"Civil enforcement would mean for the first time a whole team solely dedicated to that issue would be in operation across Telford and Wrekin.
"It will help prevent problems and make sure they are resolved quicker where they do occur, to the benefit of local residents and businesses."
