BOROUGH OF POOLE

2ND ANNUAL PARKING REPORT

APRIL 2009 - MARCH 2010

Jason Benjamin, Parking Services Manager

Email: j.benjamin@poole.gov.uk
Telephone: 01202 262150

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 Contents

Section

1.0 Introduction

2.0 Background

3.0 Parking Policy –How do we contribute

and why is it important?

4.0 Parking Services – Who we are?

5.0 Service Developments 2009/10 -

What did we achieve?

6.0 Service Developments April 2010-

March 2011 - the way forward

7.0 Financial Performance

8.0 Summary

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 Borough of Poole
Parking Services 2nd Annual Report
April 2009- March 2010

1. Introduction.

This is the Borough of Poole’s second annual report on the parking service.
The Traffic Management Act 2004 requires all local authorities to publish an
annual report on its parking activities.

This 2nd annual report provides a review of the council’s parking services
performance between April 2009 and March 2010. The report aims to
demonstrate that the council’s parking service is operating satisfactorily and to
increase the publics understanding of parking services at a local and regional
level showing how parking services contributes to the council’s corporate
priorities and local transport plans.

The first annual report was designed to be comprehensive in relation to

parking legislation, policy guidance, enforcement regulations and
administrative processes. We have chosen not to repeat all this detailed
parking information in this report but have provided links to the relevant
website where it can be obtained. This means the report has been shortened
by 20% (which if printed will save resources contributing locally and nationally
to sustainable policy targets); however the detailed qualitative information
remains the same.

2. Background

The Borough of Poole has a population of 136,000 with a higher percentage

of people being over the age of 65 years. Vehicle ownership is high with 45%
of the population owning one car and a further 28% owning two cars or more
per household.

Poole has many attractions with Britain’s best beaches, bustling Quay and
shopping centres and internationally recognised businesses. This attracts a
high number of people to the area and makes it a special place to live, visit
and work. Therefore parking enforcement must have strong customer focus to
ensure that local needs are being met and visitors’ return year after year
maintaining the vitality of the town. Our aim is getting the balance right
between effective enforcement and maintaining a welcoming approach
ensuring parking facilities and accessibility are adequate and regulations
complied with for residents and visitors alike.

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3. Parking Policy – How do we contribute and why is it important?

The parking service contributes to the wider transport aims and objectives as
detailed in the Council’s Local Transport Plan 3 (LTP3). These LTP 3
objectives are:

 Tackle climate change

 Support economic growth
 Promote equality of opportunity
 Contribute to better safety, security and health
 Improve quality of life.

Parking policies relating to enforcement have also been devised in the context
of the council’s key corporate objectives, which are:

 Developing a dynamic economy

 Promoting health and well being
 Protecting and enhancing Poole’s environment
 Improving housing for local people
 Strengthening our communities
 Supporting children and young people
 Meeting the needs of the ageing population
 Improving efficiency and effectiveness

We aim to meet these objectives by:

 Providing adequate parking provision for residents and visitors

 Balancing the demand for parking in order to enhance the
viability and attractiveness of the borough, reduce congestion,
improve air quality and health, and promote sustainable travel
patterns and behaviours
 Facilitating the movement of bus operators and emergency
services by ensuring they are not impeded by illegally parked
vehicles
 Meeting the needs of people with disabilities
 Meeting the needs of cyclists and motorcyclists
 Facilitating adequate loading and unloading facilities for
businesses and shops without causing congestion and delay to
general traffic
 Reducing long stay and commuter-based car parking

We aim to provide a parking service that is fair, consistent and proportional, in

addition to well managed car parking facilities that are safe and convenient
providing adequate disabled parking bays that are close to amenities.

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4. Parking Services – Who we are?

The parking service is responsible for the following key areas of enforcement
and other parking related functions:

 On street pay and display parking

 Off street parking through council car parks
 Resident Parking
 Enforcement of parking regulations
 Processing of statutory notices and dealing with challenges,
representations and appeals
 Recovery of parking debt through employment of bailiffs
 Permit administration
 Parking machines maintenance
 Vehicle crime reduction working in partnership with the police
 Contributes to changes in parking policy and strategy.

The introduction of part 6 of the Traffic Management Act 2004 in March 2008
changed the legal framework and in turn the way the parking service was
managed and operated. These changes can be found in more detail on our
web site www.poole.gov.uk/parking.

Appendix A shows the parking staffing structure for the Borough of Poole and
where we fit in relation to Transportation services.

5. Service Development 2009/10 – What did we achieve?

Operational Performance

Parking Enforcement

Number of PCNs issued:

1 April 2009 to 31 March 2010 - 17,337.
1 April 2008 to 31 March 2009 – 18,611.

The number has fallen due to following reasons:

 Improved compliance,
 Impact of bad weather during winter and summer period
 Implementing the Ring Go mobile phone payment service has
meant fewer overstay PCNs issued which reflects our
commitment to putting customers first
 Department for Transport approval delay for scheme changes

The current deployment of Civil Enforcement Officers (CEOs) is sufficient to

cover parking restrictions in the borough, although priority is given to those
areas where the most parking problems are experienced such as the town
centre.

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Visits and patrols are varied so that resources can be increased to areas in
Poole where enforcement is needed most for any particular period. Some
enforcement is carried out by CEOs on moped. We have two dedicated
vehicles and mopeds that are used to enforce parking restrictions in the outer
regions of the borough, late evening patrols and to provide a speedier
response to operational “hot spots”.

The parking service does not operate a clamping and removal service. There
are currently no plans to introduce this service in relation to vehicles
contravening parking regulations on the highway and in council owned car
parks.

CEOs visit schools at least once a month per term time to encourage greater
compliance with the regulations to protect the safety of children, parents,
teachers and local residents. This is often done in partnership with the police
at schools where problems persist. CEOs also respond effectively to problems
encountered by the emergency services and bus operators. We also provide
emergency school crossing cover during term times.

Parking Administration

PCNs are disputed for a wide range of reasons so it is crucial that reliable
systems exist along with well trained staff to deal with challenges,
representations and appeals received.

The parking administration team are also responsible for processing permits
and season tickets. Between April 2009 and March 2010 over 40,000 permits
and season tickets were issued.

The following table shows the operational performance achieved in 2009/10,

Performance On street Off street On street Off street

statistic 2009/10 2009/10 2008/9 2008/9
Number of higher 5,761 426 6,629 405
level PCN
Number of lower 4,581 6,569 4,890 6,687
level PCN
Total number of 10,342 6,995 11,519 7,092
PCNs issued

Number of PCNs 7,254 4704 7,911 4,692

paid at discount
Number of PCNs 676 1,243 1,138 654
paid in full
Total number of 8,497 5,380 9049 5,346
PCNs paid
Total number of 1,845 1,615 2,470 1,746
PCNs unpaid

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Number of informal 1,668 1,798 2,078 1,852
and formal
representation for
PCNs issued
Number of PCNS 607 921 921 1,058
cancelled due to
informal/formal
representations
Number of PCNs 227 151 166 116
written off for other
reasons
Number of PCNs 46 23 33 14
resulting in
Adjudication

Permit Processing 2009/10 2008/9

Number of residents permits issued 1,682 1,836
Number of resident beach season 1,812 1,663
tickets issued
Other season tickets permits issued 1,035 1,556
Multi Storey season tickets issued 400 496
Number of commuter permits 218 294
Total number of Visitor Vouchers 11,932 10,588
issued
Total number of other scratch cards 23,670 26,095
issued
Number of Healthcare permits 438 465
Number of Waivers issued 903 1,287
Number of small traders annual 44 40
permits
Total 42,134 44,322

Debt Recovery

In March 2010, the council appointed two bailiff companies Ross and Roberts
and Equita to collect unpaid PCN warrants as a result of a tender
procurement process.

The Council’s bailiff company recovered on our behalf:

1 April 2009 to 31 March 2010 - £65,097.87.
compared with
1 April 2008 to 31 March 2009 - £44,053.17.

We prefer to see matters relating to PCNs settled at an early stage of the

process either through payment or by way of a successful appeal rather than
having to resort to the use of these powers. When a PCN remains unpaid, the
Council will ultimately instruct bailiffs to recover the amount outstanding. The
bailiff is also entitled to add their fees to the amount due to the council and

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can seize goods such as a vehicle which can then be sold at auction to cover
the outstanding debt.

Car Park Management

The Borough of Poole has over 40 on and off street car parks including 4 multi
story car parks. In total, over 8,000 parking spaces plus over 250 spaces
dedicated to Blue badge holders. In addition our town centre and beach car
parks provided dedicated areas for motorbikes. The list and map showing
council car parks in Poole and respective charges can be found by visiting
www.poole.gov.uk/parking.

The cost of parking is set at a level that aims to strike a balance between the
Council’s transportation policies, the satisfaction of customers and occupancy
levels. 21 car parks have been awarded “ParkMark” status by the British
Parking Association.

In March 2010, Parkeon Ltd was the successful tenderers to replace 71 pay
and display machines in the council’s car parks and on street areas. The
existing machines were over 20 years old and expensive to maintain. The
replacement machines will be solar powered making significant savings in
maintenance and running costs. This will also help the council reduce its
energy costs.

Car park usage figures

Off street car parks 2009/10 2008/9

Total car park sales 3,865,934 3,903,946
(excluding RingGo)
Difference (38,012)

RingGo

RingGo is the mobile phone parking payment system that allows customers to
pay for their parking fees using their mobile phone with their credit or debit
card.

RingGo Usage figures

RingGo 2009/10 2008/9

Total Ring Go 13,000 4,500
transactions
Difference 8,500

Clearly, this payment method is proving increasingly popular with motorists. In

2010/11, we are proposing to extend the RingGo service to visitors wanting to
buy weekly beach parking permits.

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Blue Badge Scheme

In the UK, there are several million blue badge holders. The national scheme
only applies to on street parking. However, from 1 April 2010 valid blue badge
holders can park free in Borough of Poole off street surface car parks up to
the maximum waiting time. We review the provision of disabled spaces in all
our car parks and on street twice a year to ensure it meets the needs of Blue
Badge holders.

Blue badge abuse is a common national problem that causes great

inconvenience to genuine blue badge holders as well a defrauding the council
of parking fee income. Our CEOs have the powers to inspect Blue Badges
and report any abuses to the police and Poole social services.

The Blue Badge scheme is currently under review by the Department for
Transport and draft proposals for a revised scheme have been
discussed with local authorities and are ongoing. Changes to the
scheme are likely to be published in 2010/11.

Abandoned and Untaxed Vehicles

We support the work of the Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) by

reporting untaxed vehicles. From April 2009 to March 2010 a total of 295
witness statements were issued by CEOs. This compares to 514 witness
statements issued for the same corresponding period 2008/9. This infers that
compliance has improved.

Environmental and consumer protection services (ECPS) is responsible for

removing untaxed and abandoned vehicles. From April 2009 until March 2010
a total of 5 abandoned vehicles were removed. This compares to 26
abandoned vehicles removed in same corresponding period 2008/9.

Littering and Dog Fouling

CEOs report incident of dog fouling and littering to ECPS so that the
appropriate enforcement can be taken. At total of six reports were made from
April 2009 to March 2010. This compares to nine reports made in the same
corresponding period 2008/9

Signs and Lines

Signs and lines are needed to communicate the parking restrictions to every
motorist. There is an on going programme of maintenance and repair to
ensure signs and lines continue to be adequate for the purposes of
enforcement. To report any missing or faulty signs and lines please contact

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 parking team on 01202 262153 or the report it section at
www.boroughofPoole.com

6. Service Development April 2010- March 2011 – the way forward

Service Planned Proposals Corporate Policy

Development
Parking To develop and implement 3 year Developing a dynamic
Strategy parking strategy and to build upon economy
the initiatives put in place last year, Protecting and
including a review of simplifying enhancing Poole’s
parking tariffs, reviewing the number environment
of dedicated disabled bays, review of Meeting the needs of
CCTV system, improving parking ageing population,
administration processes for staff and Improve efficiencies
customers through investment in and effectiveness
online applications.
Parking The Traffic Management Act 2004 Protecting and
Enforcement allows local authorities to utilise enhancing Poole’s
approved mobile vehicle devices. environment
These are very effective and efficient Meeting the needs of
tools to enforce outside schools and ageing population
to clear bus stops. We are proposing Improve efficiencies
to trial this system in 2011/12. and effectiveness
Procedures for enforcement of
dropped kerbs and double parking to
be put in place in 2010
Car Parks The council car parks will acquire a Developing a dynamic
corporate identity with signage that is economy
welcoming, easy to understand and Protecting and
reflects council’s vision enhancing Poole’s
In 2010, we hope to trial several environment
electric charging points in our multi Improve efficiencies
storey car parks. and effectiveness
Replace all remaining mains powered
pay and display machines with solar
powered ones by 2011/12.

Parking The parking administration team will Protecting and

Administration be relocated to St Johns house which enhancing Poole’s
will improve communication and environment
efficiencies. Improve efficiencies
Proposed IT upgrade will mean that and effectiveness
motorists will be able to view their
PCN online and residents being able
to renew their permits online
eliminating key stationary costs.
Training All frontline and back office parking Improve efficiencies
staff to have completed relevant NVQ and effectiveness
2/3 qualifications
Ring Go Visitors to be able to purchase weekly Protecting and

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 beach permit s at any time by using enhancing Poole’s
the Ring Go mobile payment system. environment
Improve efficiencies
and effectiveness

7. Financial Performance

The following tables show the financial performance of the on and off street
parking service in 2009/10

On street
Current year (2009/10) Previous year (2008/09)
Income £ £

Pay & Display/Meters 321,533 295,799

Residents &Visitors 102,588 102,217

Permits
Business Permits N/A N/A
Other non-PCN income 19,507 18,012
PCN income 363,618 357,817
Clamping/removals N/A N/A
income*
Total Income 807,246 773,845
Expenditure

Employees 530,961 605,958

Premises 7,353 10,087
Transport 26,085 28,784
Traffic Penalty Tribunal 4,068 6,235
TEC (Northampton) 4,967 5,400
Supplies & Services 121,832 128,128
Contractor Payments 9,463 62,338
Support Costs 256,610 248,056
Depreciation/Impairment 0 1,451
Total Expenditure 961,339 1,096,437

Surplus (Deficit) (154,093) (322,592)

Off street
Current year (2009/10) Previous year (2008/09)
Income £ £

Pay & Display/Meters 3,741,593 3,586,377

Residents & Visitors 474,014 494,137

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Permits
Other non-PCN Income 225,666 231,242
PCN income 185,739 171,783
Clamping/removals N/A NA
income
Total Income Off street 4,627,012 4,483,539
Expenditure

Employees 490,937 463,402

Premises 696,650 818,634
Transport 26,221 24,114
Traffic Penalty Tribunal 4,122 4,899
TEC (Northampton) 5,033 4,600
Supplies & Services 160,569 147,602
Contractor Payments 8,596 5,999
Support Costs 416,729 376,498
Depreciation/Impairment 344,392 1,355,264
Clamping/removals N/A N/A
expenditure*
Total Expenditure 2,153,249 3,201,012

Surplus (Deficit) 2,473,763 1,282,527

TOTAL ON-AND
OFF-STREET
Income 5,434,258 5,257,384
Expenditure 3,114,588 4,297,449
Surplus (Deficit) 2,319,670 959,935

APPLICATION OF PARKING SURPLUS/DEFICIT

Year Current year Previous year

(2009/10) (2008/09)
Surplus (Deficit*) £ £
Making good to the general
fund of any amount charged
to that fund in the 4 years
immediately preceding the
financial year in question
(where
Appropriate)
Brought forward (where
Appropriate)
Report to include
Expenditure such as:-
Refurbishment of Car
Park A**

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 Introducing Controlled
Parking Zone B**
New on-street ticket
machines**
Lines and signs audit**
Concessionary fares
Taxi-card schemes
Transportation Services 2,319,670 959,935
Carried forward (where 0 0
appropriate)
EFERENCE
EFERENCE
* NB.At the end of each financial year any deficit in the account must be made good out of the general fund.
** NBB. Expenditure such as that identified by two asterisks
(**) can be dealt with either in the basic parking account as revenue expenditure, thus reducing the parking surplus, or
included here when approved as capital expenditure. The arrangement will depend on how authorities plan their future
expenditure.
.

Surplus money raised through on street activity such as PCN income is used
for meeting the costs of providing the service and/or used specifically for
highway or road improvements. Surplus funds raised through the provision of
off street parking facilities are used to off set the costs of providing services to
the public such as refuse collection, waste recycling and street cleansing.
Without these surplus funds those costs would have to be met through other
means such as Council Tax.

8. Summary

The 2nd annual report of Poole’s parking service has provided updated
information on the operational, financial and policy performance. The parking
service is in a good position to deliver significant service improvements for
2010/11 and support corporate policies and Local Transport Plan 3 objectives.

For general enquiries relating to parking charges, car park operating hours
please visit www.poole.gov.uk/parking or telephone parking services on
01202 262154.

For more information about the Blue Badge scheme please contact Poole’s
Adult Social Services Commissioning team on telephone number 01202
633605 or by email bluebadges@poole.gov.uk.

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PUBLICISING AND SUBMITTING
ACCOUNTS
Regulations (see SI 3483 and notes in the BPA note) made under theTMA
2004 will mean that enforcement authorities outside London will no longer
have to send their parking accounts each year to the Secretary of State.
However, as noted above, these authorities will still need to produce parking
accounts under S. 55 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and to publicise
these under the requirements of statutory guidance {the Annual Report}.

Given that mature parking operations may produce a parking surplus, though
not designed so to do, some authorities prudently allow for future surpluses
and build this into their programmes. There is nothing wrong in this, as long
as they do not rely on these surpluses, and if for any reason these surpluses
do not occur, authorities must not adjust their charges or operations simply to
achieve the expected surpluses.

It is also worth noting that authorities can only spend their surplus on non-
parking related items if they are satisfied there is no need for further off-street
parking facilities. Authorities may wish to provide a statement establishing this
fact if monies are to be spent in other areas.

Jason Benjamin
Parking Services Manager
j.benjamin@poole.gov.uk

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Appendix 1 Transportation Services & Parking Team Structure

Service Unit Head

PASSENGER
TRAFFIC POLICY MAINTENANCE MAINTENANCE PARKING ENGINEERING S&SI
TRANSPORT

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 Parking Services Manager

Assistant Parking Parking Administration

Services Manager Manger

Senior Enforcement Parking Officer

Supervisor

Enforcement
Enforcement
Supervisor
Supervisor
Civil Parking
Enforcement Investigation
Officers Officers
Night Team Civil Enforcement x5
x3 Officers
Car Parks
Cashier
Controller x4
Senior Civil
Enforcement Officers Seasonal Civil
Technicians X2
x3 Enforcment
Officers x4

Civil Enforcement
Civil Enforcment
Officers
Officers
x5
12 FTE's in Total x5

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