Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and introductions were made.

The Chair explained that the purpose of the meeting was for the Overview & Scrutiny Committee to consider the reasons the decision had been called-in in relation to the following item:

Item 3 – KD 5588 On & Off-Street Parking Charges. Councillor Rick Jewell, Cabinet Member for Environment was present in relation to this item. Officers were also present.

The Committee noted that Councillor Alessandro Georgiou would present the reasons for the call-in as the Lead Member.

Members of the Council are invited to identify any disclosable pecuniary, other pecuniary or non-pecuniary interests relevant to the items on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

To review the decision of the Cabinet Member for Environmenttaken on 2 April 2023 as a result of the matter having been called-in.

Details of the decision taken and issued on 2 May 2023, had been included on the Publication of Decision List No. 57/22-23. The report also set out officer responses to the reason for call-in.

The decision had been called in for review by 7 Members of the Council; Councillors Alessandro Georgiou (Lead), Andrew Thorp, Chris Joannides, Paul Pratt, Elisa Morreale, Chris Dey and David Skelton.

The reasons for call-in received from seven Members of the Council.

The reasons for the call-in were presented by Councillor Alessandro Georgiou as Lead Member.

The response to the reasons for call-in.

The Cabinet Member for Environment, Councillor Rick Jewell, responded to the reasons for the call-in and explained that there were clear reasons for the proposed change. On and Off-Street parking charges were last reviewed in 2018, since when there have been significant developments in respect of the approach to private vehicles in London as set out in regional planning and transport policies. Cllr Jewell disagreed with Cllr Alessandro’s claim that the Council was forcing people out of cars and stated that the proposed changes were standardising parking rates with other boroughs and managing the churn of traffic through the borough’s town centres.

Doug Wilkinson, Director of Environmental & Operational Services reminded the Committee that the Council is both the statutory Highway and Traffic Authority for all public roads in the Borough, and as such has a responsibility to manage the highway and kerb space, and the report sets out the Council’s duties under Highway Legislation. There are very strict regulations within the Highways Act around why and how prices are increased, and the criteria set out in law and the regulations around managing kerb side space and parking space is to encourage the turnover of use of spaces and discourage long stays, which would benefit as many people as possible.

Some Members raised concerns regarding the proposal to harmonise charges across the borough as it was felt that this would have a bigger impact on more deprived areas therefore a “ ward-by-ward” approach was called for .Officers advised that on and off-street parking charges are currently higher in Enfield Town and, whilst this reflects the higher demand for parking in Enfield Town, there are wider benefits in having a single tariff structure across the whole borough, particularly in terms of clarity for motorists. It will also allow motorists to use their paid for time to park in other areas if they have time remaining.

Whilst the current pressures on cost of living were recognised, the Council nevertheless has a duty to actively manage its network, which includes reviewing parking charges to meet wider strategic objectives. The impact of proposed charges on people who are disadvantaged due to socio-economic factors is considered in the Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA). This acknowledges that there could be some impact on people on low incomes, but also highlights that there are times when parking remains free and outlines alternative options to car use. David Morris, Head of Parking Services added that Officers had considered the impact on all residents and proposed a fair level of charges that would increase turnover.

Officers reassured Members that a great deal of thought had been given to the impact the proposed changes would have on people who share one of the different nine protected characteristics, which included the potential impact on pregnant women, as this was a particular concern raised by several members of the committee. The Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA) had been completed fairly with knowledgeable colleagues across the Council. It was also reviewed by  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3b

To note that the date of the next Overview & Scrutiny Committee business meeting is scheduled to take place on 21 June 2023 at 7:00pm. This will be the Work Programme Planning meeting.

NOTED that the next business meeting of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee was scheduled to take place at 7pm on 21 June 2023 at the Civic Centre, Enfield. This would be the Work Programme Planning meeting.