Issue - meetings

Report of Director of Operational Delivery

Purpose of report

To consider additional on-street parking enforcement delivered by Thames Valley Police and its funding.

Recommendations

The Executive is recommended:

 1.1        To fund Thames Valley Police the equivalent of a full time Police Community Support Officer to undertake on-street parking enforcement across the Cherwell Distric.;

1.2         To agree funding of up to £30,000 per annum for this purpose for a minimum of two years.

Resolved

(1)          That agreement be given to fund Thames Valley Police the equivalent of a full time Police Community Support Officer to undertake on-street parking enforcement across the Cherwell District

(2)          That funding of up to £30,000 per annum for this purpose for a minimum of two years be agreed.

(3)          That, subject to Thames Valley Police confirming they have resource available, authority be delegated to the Director of Operational Delivery, in consultation with the Deputy Leader, to commence the funding of the equivalent of a full time Police Community Officer in the 2017/18 municipal year in addition to the funding agreed in resolution (2).  

The Director of Operational Delivery submitted a report to consider additional on-street parking enforcement delivered by Thames Valley Police and its funding.

In the course of the discussion Members acknowledged that whilst not a statutory function, the proposal would assist residents and improve the district. Councillor Mallon proposed an additional recommendation: That subject to Thames Valley Police confirming they have resource available, authority be delegated to the Director of Operational Delivery, in consultation with the Deputy Leader, to commence the funding of the equivalent of a full time Police Community Officer in the 2017/18 municipal year in addition to the funding agreed in resolution (2). Councillor Reynolds seconded the proposal.

In response to comments by Councillor Woodcock, Leader of the Labour Group, who confirmed the support of the Labour Group for the proposal, Councillor Reynolds confirmed that activity logs would be maintained by TVP for monitoring purposes and for CDC to ensure value for money.   

Resolved

(1)          That agreement be given to fund Thames Valley Police the equivalent of a full time Police Community Support Officer to undertake on-street parking enforcement across the Cherwell District

(2)          That funding of up to £30,000 per annum for this purpose for a minimum of two years be agreed.

(3)          That, subject to Thames Valley Police confirming they have resource available, authority be delegated to the Director of Operational Delivery, in consultation with the Deputy Leader, to commence the funding of the equivalent of a full time Police Community Officer in the 2017/18 municipal year in addition to the funding agreed in resolution (2).  

Reasons

Additional on-street parking enforcement has for some time been identified as a local issue requiring attention. The proposal for TVP with funding from this Council to undertake this low priority crime function is expected to be welcomed by local councils and the majority of drivers who park off-street or legally on-street.

Alternative options

Option 1: To continue this function with no additional resource, meaning this remains a low priority for TVP and only undertaken on an ad hoc basis when other police pressures allow. This is not recommended as it is anticipated that there will be no improvement to the current on-street parking difficulties.

Option 2: The employment of a traffic warden was proposed but the use of a PCSO was an operational preference for TVP.