Police commissioner offers £150,000 if Telford & Wrekin Council takes on parking powers

John Campion has written to the council offering to provide £50,000 for the first year of a civil parking enforcement scheme (CPE), and up to a further £50,000 again in years two and three.

At the moment, Telford is one of only a handful of councils across the country that does not have civil parking enforcement powers, the only unitary authority not to do so and the only council in the West Midlands no to.

Only 21 councils nationwide do not have civil parking enforcement powers.

The job of issuing tickets to motorists in Telford is currently in the hands of police or community officers.

But the council could apply for a civil parking enforcement order, which would enable it to target problem areas, potentially increasing the number of tickets issued to motorists each year – and allowing the council to keep any fines that are issued.

Mr Campion, PCC for West Mercia, has said he is keen to see the de-criminalisation of parking enforcement, which is not always a priority for officers investigating more serious crimes.

Telford is the only place in the force area that doesn't have CPE.

He is understood to have written to both council leader Shaun Davies and cabinet member for transport, Councillor Angela McClements offering the financial support for the scheme.

Councillor Davies said: “Discussions with the police are still ongoing and we are reviewing the options and costs associated with CPE, however the offer made by the PCC would we believe not cover the costs of the council taking on responsibility for this.

“A final recommendation will be brought to a cross party scrutiny committee on this on November 9.

“At this stage I cannot say what this recommendation will be as work is still ongoing. If scrutiny recommend that we do take on this power, there is a lengthy business case and legal processes to go through which can take up to 18 months before any change could be in place.

“It’s disappointing that the letter to me from the PCC about this has been leaked to media.”

The proposals last came before the Finance and Enterprise Scrutiny Committee in November, when councillors said they needed more information before the council could take on the powers.

In July of this year, the scheme was again looked at by Members of Telford & Wrekin Council's finance and enterprise scrutiny committee said the powers are "much needed" but said they need more information about funding to cover the set-up costs.

Conservative councillors who proposed the scheme said they want to see the plans move more quickly and were hoping the council would be applying for the powers at the next opportunity in March.

Councillor Eric Carter, ward member for Newport South & East, first proposed the scheme.

He said: "This is of particular interest to Newport, and we have been lobbying as a town council and I have been lobbying as borough councillor for a number of years.

"This money may not cover the total costs of the scheme, but it is the principle, we are the only council in the West Midlands which does not have these powers. It is nonsensical.

"I really do hope Telford & Wrekin council do understand the need for this to go ahead."

Councillor Nicola Lowery, Ward Member of the Ironbridge Gorge, who seconded the initial proposals, said: “As the majority of councils have adopted civil parking enforcement powers, there are many examples throughout the country that illustrate its ability to control unsafe and illegal parking.

"As our vorough continues to expand it is essential we develop a credible strategy and adopting civil parking enforcement, as it will contribute to the authority’s transport objectives.

“I am delighted by the recent commitment from our police and crime commissioner to invest within Telford & Wrekin’s scheme.

"This financial contribution will ensure that this becomes a viable scheme that uses quality based standards, which are enforced fairly and accurately.

"I do believe that the council is best placed to address illegal and inconsiderate parking and the de-criminalisation of CPE will enable the council to respond to an important aspect of our community’s needs and priorities”.

Concerns have been raised by councillors who say they would not want to see officers "incentivised" to give out tickets, and struggle to see whether taking over the powers would be financially viable to the council.

But others have said that parking is not currently policed because of the strain on officers and this would give a better result for people in Telford.