General Question – 29 April 2010

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Under Standing Order 14, Councillor Caroline Nichols asked the following question:

“Does the Leader share my concern at the amount of officer time which is being devoted to handling complaints from residents affected as a result of the introduction of charges in the Lower Sunbury car parks? Can the Council’s parking review be brought forward?”

Councillor John Packman responded as follows:

“The Councillor can be assured that the introduction of charges in Lower Sunbury has not generated any greater correspondence than normal for changes in charging regimes. Parking services, by its very nature, generate correspondence which is dealt with by the officers as a normal part of their duties. Parking services has recently been reviewed in terms of the operation on a day to day basis and considerable improvements have been made and it is not our intention at the present time to carry out a further review in the foreseeable future.”

Under Standing Order 14.2, Councillor Caroline Nichols, asked the following supplementary questions:

“Can you advise what the improvements are that have been made following the parking services review? Why do agency agreements affect a decision as to when to do a review? As a ward councillor the review that seems to be required is to see the consequences of impact on the area as a result of the introduction of parking charges.”

Councillor John Packman responded on the following lines:

“The reference to agency agreements was in the written answer circulated to members prior to the Council meeting but has now been withdrawn from the answer. I have also indicated previously that a review has already been carried out and a further review will not take place in the foreseeable future. The Council has to discuss issues relating to off street parking with the County Council. If the Councillor has further questions on this subject she is entitled to ask officers of the Council outside of the meeting.”