City in fine mess ignored advice

The Journal
Tuesday, October 4, 2005
By Ross Smith
ross.smith@ncjmedia.co.uk

Council failed to act on expert's parking report

The North council at the centre of a storm over parking fines has admitted failing to take advice from experts hired to make sure its system worked.

Sunderland Council says it is investigating why measures recommended by consultants Faber Maunsell in 2001 were not implemented.

The company was hired to advise the council when it took charge of its own parking enforcement from police four years ago.

The authority ran into trouble last August when it admitted having collected more than £27,905 from motorists who parked on taxi ranks, despite having no legal powers to do so.

Sunderland has now confessed it also incorrectly collected £5,862 from disabled badge holders who parked in loading bays, despite the fact they are exempt from this restriction.

Both anomalies were discovered in autumn 2003, but the public were not told and refunds not offered for more than 18 months. Campaigner Neil Herron, who uncovered the errors, also claims the entire parking regime in the city centre could be unlawful due to a lack of relevant traffic orders, though the council denies this.

But the authority is carrying out an urgent review of the parking system since the problems came to light.

Yesterday, a council spokesperson admitted: " In 2001, an external consultant's report detailed a number of areas requiring implementation or validation of parking restrictions in the city at that time.

" During the council's review it has become apparent that not all of these measures were actioned.

" The review will identify why this was the case. In the meantime, a new exercise to identify any current discrepencies is being undertaken as a matter of urgency." A statement from city solicitor Bob Rayner, treasurer Keith Beardmore and director of development and regeneration Phil Barrett said "senior management" had not been told about the problems until last August.

The council says it is trying to track people who have paid fines through the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency to refund them.

Mr Herron said: "We said earlier that the taxi rank issue was the tip of the iceberg. It looks like Sunderland is well on course for a collision."

He believes the failure to implement Faber Maunsell's recommendations could render the whole system unlawful.

"All enforcement activity should be suspended immediately pending an external investigation," he said.