Sunday, December 02, 2007

Or is this why there is no Christmas Party in Brighton for the Parking Attendants?

The number of 'fines' issued has dropped to the lowest level in 5 years.

Despite increasing numbers of controlled parking areas, 130,000 tickets are expected to be issued by parking attendants by April 2008 compared to the 165,000 predicted earlier this year.

This leaves the council £700,000 down on takings, although more money has been made from pay and display bays and resident permits.

However, the council still expects to make record profits from parking this year, with the total revenue hitting almost £14 million.
Some £5.6 million profit will be raked in during the 12 months up until April 2008 - £750,000 more than last year.

Read the report in the Argus ... City parking fines drop to lowest level for five years

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Hi Neil,

Just today discovered your superb internet sites.

Congratulations Neil on your efforts.

Could you tell me please how did your court action go against the Parking Services of Brighton & Hove City Council?

Why I'm asking is because today - 8/12/07/ - I got a Parking Ticket in Brighton.

I guess their PCN are still illegal due to the sentence "You are required to pay ..." ? To quote your letter to Hull City Council....

As your Penalty Charge Notices also states:

" You are required to pay ..."

Hull City Council, in this respect, are misrepresenting the correct legal position regarding responsibility for payment. Under the 1991 Road Traffic Act it is the Registered Keeper who is legally responsible for the payment of the Penalty Charge not the driver. By making reference to 'you' you are creating a potential for prejudice as the 'you' may or may not be the registered keeper when the PCN is served by attaching it to the vehicle or handing it to the driver. It could well be that drivers may have paid PCNs after being misled by such wording when legally it was not their responsibility.

Therefore, could you please confirm that you will suspend enforcement forthwith pending the changing of the PCNs and correcting the website?

2. Do you plan to change the wording on your Penalty Charge Notices. If not please clarify on what authority you believe that you can deviate from the requirements of the legislation?

3. If you do intend to change the PCNs will you please confirm that all PCNs which have misrepresented the correct legal position will be refunded?

4. Could you please provide (treat as a Freedom of Information request if necessary):

(i) the number of Penalty Charge Notices issued to date (and income derived from those PCNs);
(ii) the number (and value) of PCNs currently unpaid;
(iii) copies of all communications (written, telephone, e-mail) internally between officers and departments of the council and externally with other agencies (National Parking Adjudication Service, Department for Transport, Government Office, other Councils) regarding the Penalty Charge Notices and any other such concerns regarding the validity, non-compliance of any other DPE notices;
(iv) copies of the background papers, consultations, prepared in advance of DPE and any communications (written, telephone, e-mail) internally between officers and departments of the council and externally with other agencies (National Parking Adjudication Service, Department for Transport, Government Office, other Councils) including a copy of the application to the DfT
(v) copies of any Special Authorisations obtained from the Department for Transport for any lines, signs or plates which do not comply with prescribed diagrams contained in the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2002.

I look forward to your response. Please acknowledge receipt of this letter and give an indication as to the timeframe for your response. Questions 1 - 3 can be taken separately to the FoI request.
--- END

My kind thanks Neil in anticipation of your reply. :)

Blog Archive


only search Neil Herron Blog