AGENDA ITEM 7

BOROUGH OF POOLE

TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY GROUP – THURSDAY 31 MARCH 2011

REPORT OF HEAD OF TRANSPORTATION SERVICES

PARKING CHARGES FOR BLUE BADGE HOLDERS IN OFF STREET SURFACE CAR PARKS

PART OF THE PUBLISHED FORWARD PLAN:

1.PURPOSE AND POLICY CONTEXT

1.1To consider responses to the consultation undertaken regarding the re-introduction of charging Blue Badge holders (except those that are tax exempt) to park in all Council-owned off-street surface car parks – Town Centre, Beaches and Districts.

1.2The current year’s car park income budget has a forecast end of year deficit of £524k of which free parking for Blue Badge holders is a contributory factor. This in turn limits the council’s ability to deliver key services, including those which support the vulnerable.

2.DECISION REQUIRED

2.1It is recommended that the Portfolio Holder confirms the decision that parking charges apply for Blue Badge holders (except those that are tax exempt) in Council-owned off-street surface car parks.

3.BACKGROUND/INFORMATION

3.1A report was considered by this Group on 6 January 2011 setting out proposals for introducing charges for Blue Badge holders (except those that are tax exempt) in Council-owned off-street car parks.

3.2Subsequent to this meeting, consultation took place as follows:

(a)Advertisementin the press

(b)Circulated to the standard list of consultees, together with particular stakeholder groups.

(c)Notices posted on site at all car parks.

There have been no responses to these.

3.3In addition the details were presented to the Getting About Group at a specific meeting held on 18 February. The Group came up with a number of suggestions, with a general consensus that the parking should be retained free for town centre car parks – where journeys are for essential shopping – as opposed to leisure trips to the beach. The relevant extract from the minutes of this meeting are shown as Appendix A.

4.FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

4.1Based on surveys it is estimated that approximately £79,000 of income is lost every year by not charging Blue Badge holders in off-street surface car parks.

5.LEGAL IMPLICATIONS

5.1The standard 28 day statutory notification period for changes to the Traffic Regulation Order has been applied.

5.2Recent cases across the country have concluded that it is essential that people with disabilities are consulted when considering such changes as this – the report outlines the ways that this consultation has been carried out.

6.RISK MANAGEMENT

6.1Failure to achieve financial targets would create a budget pressure within Transportation Services, requiring actions which could include further cuts to services.

7.EQUALITIES IMPLICATIONS

7.1An Equalities Impact Assessment (EQIA) has been undertaken and this is attached as Appendix B.

8.CONCLUSIONS

8.1The Council is facing unprecedented financial pressures which is having a very real impact on its ability to deliver services, including those to the vulnerable.

8.2On this basis it is considered that it is no longer affordable to give free parking to Blue Badge holders on off-street surface car parks. A Blue Badge is not a measure of the owners financial ability to pay for parking.

8.3Signs would be clearly displayed at all of the car park entrances that charges will apply for all blue badge holders (except tax exempt) from 1 May 2011.

Julian McLaughlin

Service Unit Head

Contact Officer: Steve Tite (Tel: 01202 262020)

Appendix A-Extract from minutes of Getting About Group

Appendix B-Equalities Impact Assessment (EQIA)

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APPENDIX A

EXTRACT FROM MINUTES

GETTING ABOUT POOLE GROUP

held at 10 am on the 18th February 2011

in the Council Chamber at the Civic Centre

3.Parking Charges

Nick Phillips introduced Jason Benjamin, Parking Services Manager,who has attended the group today to talk about parking charges in the Borough.

Jason outlined his role to the group and explained that he has attended today to discuss the proposal to re-introduce parking charges for blue badge holders in the Borough car parks. He circulated copies of a report presented to the Transportation Advisory Group on the 6th January 2011 (attached as Appendix I) and outlined the key points. An Equalities Impact Assessment is being undertaken on this proposal and comments are invited from the group as part of the consultation process. As at 31st January 2011 the car park income budget is £520,000 in deficit. Following a full review of Parking Services in the Borough to consider ways of addressing the deficit, it is proposed that parking charges for blue badge holders in car parks will be re-introduced. It is very regrettable that that decision has had to be made because only 12 months ago the charges were removed. Jason clarified that these charges will not apply to blue badge holders with tax-exempt vehicles. It is likely that the proposal will come into effect in on 1 May 2011.

Don Jones said that it seems wrong that when he is on his own in his tax-exempt vehicle he will not have to pay, but when he goes out with his personal assistant, he will have to pay. He suggested that local people such as himself should be allocated a pass to enable him to continue using the scheme, but non-residents will pay. The tax exemption is shown on the tax disc in his car but the exemption should apply to the person, not the car.

Jason acknowledged the point but this is a national arrangement.

Colin Price queried the extent of the effect of blue badge holders not paying in car parks on the forecast car park income and felt that people generally not using car parks has much more impact.

Jason said the income from blue badge holders is about 7% of the total income based on surveys taken in the summer at car parks including Sandbanks and Branksome Chine. This equates to £79,000 of the total budget.

Lynne Fisher said that running the scheme for a year is not long enough and she felt that people were used to not paying now and would not be aware that they had to pay again. In her opinion, this proposal was very devious and she asked how much it will cost to change everything back again.

Jason said it will cost £2,000 to change the traffic order for the whole Borough. There are 38 car parks and it will cost about £30-40 per car park to change the signs as they have removable plates.

Lynne felt that just changing the signs was not enough, it must be very well advertised in the media otherwise people will feel deceived and this is not fair to blue badge holders.

Jason reminded the group that blue badge holders can park free for up to 3 hours on yellow lines as long as they do not cause an obstruction and in ‘resident parking’ areas with no time limit. Lynne strongly felt that this was wrong and stated that residents parking areas should be for residents only. Jason would bring this matter to the attention of the Portfolio member to consider amending, but we would need to be in line with the national guidance.

At this point the group broke into groups to discuss parking charges – the comments made are summarised below:

  • Remove concession at beaches (leisure trips) whilst keeping concession at town centre (essential shopping trips)
  • All surface car parking should be free near shopping centres
  • This proposal is ‘hitting’ the disabled
  • It will create more on street parking and congestion
  • It is driving the disabled away from Poole when this should be encouraged
  • There should be a facility to transfer the exemption certificate from own car to other car when out with Personal Assistant/friend/carer
  • Running out of funds – why knock the disabled?
  • Better information needed by letter and in Poole News
  • Multi-storey is inaccessible for residents with disabilities
  • Why are there so many No Loading ticks on town centre residential streets, preventing disabled users from parking?
  • Concession to blue badge holders was announced April 2010 - charges will be re- imposed in April 2011- not long enough time to make an informed decision.
  • People will not look at new signage, will be caught out with fines
  • Revenue – effect on local economy as will put disabled shoppers off from coming to Poole
  • Must have clear communication to let people know
  • This will all create a very bad attitude towards the Council

Nick summarised the discussion by stating that everyone realises the financial difficulties faced by the Council and the group recognises the impact on income at the beach car parks, particularly Sandbanks. One suggestion put forward is that blue badge holders should be charged at the beach car parks but not in the town centre car parks.

Jason said he would take this suggestion forward to portfolio holder but felt that this was unlikely to be approved because of the financial situation.

Nick said all the comments made would be collated and passed to Jason for inclusion in the forthcoming Committee Report.

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APPENDIX B

Borough of Poole Equality Impact Assessment

Function: / Blue Badge Parking
Service Unit: / Transportation Services
Names & roles of officers/ partners undertaking EQIA: / Unit EQIA Working Group consisting of:- Jason Benjamin - Parking Services Manager, John McVey – Passenger Transport & Accessibility Manager, Ken Pearce – Local Transport Plan Manager.
Date screening completed: / 8th March 2011
Aims of the Function
The parking service aims to support the Council’s transportation and economic strategies, balancing the needs of all users. It promotes inclusive communities and ensures access for all, particularly in relation to community safety.
All drivers of vehicles whether they are residents or business users or visitors to Poole benefit from the service. It also creates a safer environment for pedestrians and cycle users.
Poole’s blue badge aim is to provide a sufficient amount of convenient and accessible dedicated disabled parking areas for blue badge holders in our off street car parks. The capacity usage of dedicated disabled areas is reviewed bi-annually by the parking services team to ensure that we are meeting our aims.
In addition, every year the parking services team attends a Getting About Poole meeting to discuss with stakeholders whether blue badge provision is adequate and what actions are required in the town.
Jason Benjamin, Parking Services Manager is responsible for the functions of the Parking Services Section, which include not only car park management but also enforcement of on and off street parking regulations through the issue of Penalty Charge Notices. The parking services team also manage any complaints regarding blue badge abuse and works closely with social services and the Police to prevent this happening.
Equality Strand / EQIA Evidence / SMART Actions / Performance Measures
People from different age groups / Key Findings
-Blue badges are issued by social services irrespective of age (except if the person is under 2 years old). They are issued on the basis of mobility needs
-The majority of Blue badge holders are over the age of 60
-Adult Social Services issue over 7,000 blue badges a year. Each badge lasts for 3 years / Monitor proposed timetable for new government regulations to take affect.
Current mitigating actions/positive actions
-In February 2011, new Government proposals to ensure that age does not affect entitlement.
-Lifts and ramps are provided in the multi storey car parks for less mobile customers, and a popular shop mobility service operates from the Dolphin multi story car park. These are being upgraded to ensure they are DDA compatible.
Disabled people / Key findings:
-There are over 200 dedicated disabled parking spaces in the borough. This number is reviewed twice a year to ensure it meets the needs of disabled drivers. The latest survey was undertaken in July 2010 and the outcome suggested that the provision of disabled parking was adequate. In addition, blue badge holders can park free of charge up to 3 hours in on-street parking bays. / Parking Services team undertake bi-annual surveys in April and July/August. / POP satisfaction survey. Insert sub question to reflect reasons why people are satisfied or dissatisfied with service.
Current mitigating actions/positive actions
-Disabled parking spaces are located at strategic points within the car parks to enable users to gain easy access to facilities. Some car parks have extra wide bays for wheelchair users. In 2010 the Council doubled the amount of DDA bays in Quay visitors car park and in March 2011 doubled the number of DDA bays in the Dolphin shopping centre car park.
-The Parking Services Manager met and consulted with the Getting About Poole Group on the 18th February 2011to discuss new charging policy. The feedback from the group felt that blue badge parking should remain free of charge in car parks. The PSM stated that this concession was no longer viable given the current financial climate. However, the council’s proposed actions to create more DDA bays and improve accessibility in all car parks were welcomed by the group. The GAP group also insisted that adequate signs be placed in the car parks so that blue badge holders know that have to pay from 1st May 2011 and that tax exempt holders can still park for free. / Clearly worded and sited signs will be displayed in all car parks stating that blue badge holders will have to pay for parking from 1st May 2011.
Also warning notices will be issued in the first week of enforcement rather than Penalty Charge Notices.
. / If 50% of all DDA bays are at full capacity usage when surveyed then this will be the trigger point for further review of DDA provision
-The new payment machines installed in the four multi story car parks are all accessible for wheel chair users and compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act. / Monitor how many PCNS issued in blue badge bays for non compliance or fraudulent use.
-Lifts and ramps are provided and an extensive lift refurbishment programme has taken place in recent years. Further lift refurbishment work took place in 2010. In addition a popular shop mobility scheme operates from Dolphin car park, which is supported financially by the Council.
-Help Points are available 24/7 in all car parks for people needing assistance. Induction loops will be installed in the multi story car parks to assist those with hearing difficulties.
-Charges currently apply in multi story car parks for disabled badge holders, however in surface car parks higher rate mobility users (tax exempt) are exempt from charges for the first 3 hours. A review of the council’s charging policy for blue badge holders was completed in 2009/2010 and reviewed again in 2010/11. Disabled parking requirements are about access to services and not about the ability to pay.
-As part of the development of Seldown surface car park, an additional 5 disabled parking spaces have been created.
-In 2010, we installed pedestrian routes in the Quay visitors car park to separate pedestrians from moving traffic. This also meant wheelchair users could access exit ramps and lifts without having to constantly look behind.
People of different faiths or belief / Key findings:
-No evidence that there will be a negative impact on people of different faiths or beliefs
Current mitigating actions/positive actions
- / None
Men, Women,
Trans people / Key findings:
-No evidence that there will be a negative impact on people of different faiths or beliefs.
Current mitigating actions/positive actions
- / None
Black and minority ethnic people / Key findings:
-Blue badge symbol is an international recognised sign so that people from different nationalities living in the UK are likely to know the meaning.
-No evidence that there will be a negative impact on BME people
Current mitigating actions/positive actions
- / Monitor any proposals to change symbol
Lesbian, Gay or Bisexual people / Key findings:
-No evidence that there will be a negative impact on Lesbian, gay or bisexual people
-
Current mitigating actions/positive actions
- / None
Review date[1]: / Sent record to PERD Rep and Improvement and Policy Officer – Equalities

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[1] In at least 3 years time