COLCHESTER BOROUGH COUNCIL

RECORD OF DECISIONS TAKEN UNDER DELEGATED POWERS

Explanatory Note

The Council has established Delegation Schemes by which certain decisions may be made by
the relevant cabinet member or specific officers.

Such decisions are subject to review under the Call-in Procedure. From the date the decision is
published there are five working days during which any five Councillors may sign a request for
the decision to be reviewed and deliver it to the Proper Officer. If, at the end of the period, no
request has been made, the decision may be implemented. If a valid request has been made,
the matter will be referred to either the Finance and Audit Scrutiny Panel if the Type of Decision
is Service, or the Strategic Overview and Scrutiny Panel if the Type of Decision is
Strategic/Corporate.

For decisions which are deemed to be Key Decisions, these must be included in the Forward
Plan and 14 days must elapse between publication of the Forward Plan and the decision being
taken.

In addition, any report (excluding confidential ones) relating to a Key Decision must have been
made available to the public at least five clear days prior to the decision being signed.

Part A – To be completed by the appropriate Cabinet Member/Officer

Title of Report

Publication of Parking Annual Report

Delegated Power

To procure the specified service in the provision, implementation, maintenance and

management of:-

Operational Car parking

Decision Taken

To approve the Annual Report for Parking.

Key Decision

This is not a key decision

Forward Plan

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n/a

Reasons for the Decision

Guidance issued under the Traffic Management Act 2004 (relevant parts introduced by
Regulations on 31/03/2008) means that enforcement authorities now have to produce an
Annual Report about their enforcement activities within six months of the end of each financial
year.

This is the first of these reports due, which covers the year 2008-09 in retrospect.

Alternative Options

n/a

Conflict of Interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

Type of Decision

Service

Dispensation

n/a

Authorisation

Signature________Councillor Tim Young__________________________________________

Designation _______Portfolio Holder for Street and Waste Services_____________________

Date _____________15/10/09_________________________________________

(NB For Key Decisions five clear days must have elapsed between the report being made
available (see date in Key Decision box above) and the decision being taken i.e. signed)

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Part B – To be completed by the Proper Officer

Call-in Procedure

Date published on The Hub and placed in Members’ Room and Customer Service Centre
________23 December 2009_______________________________________________

Date by which request for reference must be made to the Finance and Audit Scrutiny Panel if
the Type of Decision is Service or the Strategic Overview and Scrutiny Panel if the Type of
Decision is Strategic/Corporate

5pm________6 January 2010______________________________________________

Signed _____Diane Harrison______________________________________________

Proper Officer

Reference Number
STS-007-09

____________________________

Implementation

Date decision can be implemented if no request (Call-in) for the decision to be reviewed has
been made

After 5pm________6 January 2010__________________________________________

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 Item
Street and Waste Services Portfolio Holder
5 October 2009

Report of Head of Street Services Author Richard Walker

℡ 282708
Title Publication of Parking Annual Report 2008-09
Wards Not applicable
affected

This report concerns the Annual Parking Report

which is now required to be produced

1. Decision(s) Required

1.1 To approve the Annual Report for Parking.

2. Reasons for Decision(s)

2.1 Guidance issued under the Traffic Management Act 2004 (relevant parts introduced by
Regulations on 31/03/2008) means that enforcement authorities now have to produce an
Annual Report about their enforcement activities within six months of the end of each
financial year.

3. Alternative Options

3.1 There are no alternative options.

4. Strategic Plan References

4.1 This report contains details from our ongoing strategy to improve parking in line with our
strategic aim to be ‘’a borough where people want to live, work and visit’’.

5. Consultation

5.1 The report contains factual information required by Regulations and there is no need for
Consultation.

6. Publicity Considerations

6.1 This report is required to be published widely. New Regulations brought about the core
principles of fairness, transparency and consistency – and this report lends support to
the transparency aim.

6.2 It is that the report will generate some publicity and media coverage.

7. Equality, Diversity and Human Rights Implications

7.1 There are no particular equality, diversity or human rights implications. This is covered
in the original EQIA for the Service.
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8. Other implications

8.1 There are no particular references to the Strategic Plan; publicity or consultation
considerations; or financial; community safety; health and safety or risk management
implications.

Appendix

Report

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Appendix

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 www.wordle.net

Annual Report 2009: Issue 1

© Colchester Borough Council
www.colchester.gov.uk/parking
email: parking@colchester.gov.uk
Telephone 0845 045 1599
Data contained herein may be
reproduced with the prior
permission of the authority.
This report follows guidance issued by the
Department for Transport, British Parking
Association and The Traffic Penalty Tribunal.

Version date:
Wednesday, 23 December
2009

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Contents
Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................................10

Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................13
About this document ...........................................................................................................................................13
Other published documents ................................................................................................................................13
Legislation .........................................................................................................................................................13

Overview & Local Context ......................................................................................................................................13

Overview & Local Context ......................................................................................................................................14

Setting the scene ...............................................................................................................................................14
Links with the Local Transport Plan ....................................................................................................................14
Parking Enforcement Policy ................................................................................................................................14
Local Context .....................................................................................................................................................16
Aims and Objectives ...........................................................................................................................................16
A Sense of Place ...................................................................................................................................................17
Parking Enforcement Priorities............................................................................................................................17
Links with other council priorities. .......................................................................................................................17
Challenges of Parking Enforcement ....................................................................................................................17
Enforcement and parking restrictions ..................................................................................................................17
Announcing Changes to Operations ....................................................................................................................18
Enforcement Pattern Changes ............................................................................................................................18
Tackling Schools Enforcement ............................................................................................................................18
On Street Parking Places ...................................................................................................................................19
Off Street Parking Places ...................................................................................................................................19
Changes within car parks ...................................................................................................................................19
Code of Practice for Civil Enforcement Officers ...................................................................................................20
Representations Handling...................................................................................................................................20
Local Authority Structure ....................................................................................................................................20
Other Related Issues ..........................................................................................................................................21
Customer Service ...............................................................................................................................................21
Enforcement overview ........................................................................................................................................21
Communication and Consultation........................................................................................................................21
Contacting Parking Services ...............................................................................................................................21
Information and Enquiries ...................................................................................................................................21
Digest ...................................................................................................................................................................22
Schools .......................................................................................................................................................22
Verge Parking ..............................................................................................................................................22
Parking Charges in car parks .......................................................................................................................23

Policy and Performance Appraisals .......................................................................................................................25

Objectives & Performance ..................................................................................................................................25
Delivery .............................................................................................................................................................25
Performance against traffic management priorities: .............................................................................................25

Statistics for Parking PCNs ....................................................................................................................................25

Statistical Tables ................................................................................................................................................27

Financial .................................................................................................................................................................31
More information about PCNs ................................................................................................................................32
Cancelled cases .................................................................................................................................................32
Written off and Paid cases ..................................................................................................................................32
PCNs Issued ......................................................................................................................................................33
PCNs by contravention .......................................................................................................................................34
Statistical information for Bus Lane and Moving Traffic PCNs ..............................................................................35

Other Relevant References .....................................................................................................................................36

Documents .........................................................................................................................................................36
Glossary ............................................................................................................................................................36
Web Site ............................................................................................................................................................37
End Notes and Sources ......................................................................................................................................37

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Page 9 of 37
 Executive Summary

The enforcement of parking is one of the more contentious issues with which the council has to
deal. However there is rarely smoke without fire, and the statistics in this report show that a
penalty is rarely issued without a contravention having first been committed.

It is of course the way in which all cases are dealt with by the council which is of interest to
errant motorists. To this end, Regulations introduced at the start of the last financial year under
the Traffic Management Act, brought about the core principles of fairness, transparency and
consistency brought about the biggest changes to the process for a number of years.

To underpin the fairness aspect, Regulations also brought in differential penalties for the more
and less serious contraventions.

Consistency between councils was strengthened by way of the statutory guidance and revised
operational guidance, which was also issued on 31 March 2008.

Transparency in how successful the scheme has been in meeting its aims is the subject of this
first Annual Report. Over a number of years, Annual Reports will start to build up a picture of
the enforcement regime.

Parking impacts on many areas and I am glad to note that this report contains details from our
ongoing strategy to improve our parking in line with our strategic aim to be “a borough where
people want to live, work and visit”.

Cllr Tim Young

Portfolio Holder for Parking

Colchester Borough Council

September 2009

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Page 11 of 37
blank page

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Introduction
About this document
Guidance issued under the Traffic
Management Act 2004 (TMA) means that
enforcement authorities have to produce an
Annual Report about their enforcement
activities within six months of the end of
each financial year.
This is the first of these reports due, which
covers the year 2008-09 in retrospect.
The requirements are given in:
• the TMA itself and the related
Statutory Guidance (SG), issued in
February 2008i.
• the Operational Guidance (OG),
issued in March 2008, with minor
revisions in May 2008.ii
Other published documents
Other documents of interest include:
• Protocols, policies and plans
• Strategy Document
The council publishes its enforcement
protocols and plans on the website,
accessible at
www.colchester.gov.uk/parking and other
details of parking and enforcement are
covered in our Parking Strategy Document.
Legislation
The principal legislation affecting parking
enforcement is Part 6 of the TMA. Parts 2
and 7 are also relevant.
Part 2 imposes a network-management duty
on all local traffic authorities. This is aimed
at ensuring the efficient management of the
road network to reduce congestion and
delays. Part of the network-management
duty is to manage parking and other traffic
regulations, to achieve the required aims.
The network management duty is for the
county council, as highway authority, Essex
being a two-tier authority area.
Part 7 covers amendments to the blue
badge scheme and the application of
parking surpluses. These amendments have
already been brought into effect. The annual
report is an opportunity for councils to
describe this policy background, explain any
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specific policy objectives and report on how
these are being met.
The aim of Part 6 of the TMA is to provide a
consistent set of regulations and procedures
throughout England, while allowing parking
policies to suit local circumstances. It
promotes fairness, openness and
accountability. Statutory Guidance sets out
the policy framework for civil parking
enforcement. It is relevant to quote here the
CPE policy objectives from SG:
from the Statutory Guidance:
‘11 CPE should contribute to the authority’s
transport objectives. A good CPE regime is
one that uses quality-based standards that the
public understands, and which are enforced
fairly, accurately and explicitly.
12 Enforcement authorities should aim to
increase compliance with parking restrictions
through clear, well designed, legal and
enforced parking controls. CPE provides a
means by which an authority can effectively
deliver wider transport strategies and
objectives. Enforcement authorities should not
view CPE in isolation or as a means of raising
revenue.
13 Enforcement authorities should design their
parking policies with particular regard to:
• managing the traffic network to ensure
expeditious movement of traffic (including
pedestrians and cyclists), as required
under its Network Management Duty (as
per Part 2 of the TMA);
• improving road safety;
• improving the local environment;
• improving the quality and accessibility of
public transport;
• meeting the needs of people with
disabilities, some of whom will be unable to
use public transport and depend entirely
on the use of a car; and
• managing and reconciling the competing
demands for kerb space.’
Overview & Local Context
Setting the scene
National policy context is set by the OG; On
Local Policy, the OG recommends that each
local authority should have a clear idea of
what its parking policy is and what it intends
to achieve by it. They should appraise their
policy and its objectives regularly.
The Government’s policy on parking
provision is set out in Planning Policy
Guidance Note (PPG) 13, Transport.
Specific policy on parking provision for
housing development is in Planning Policy
Statement (PPS) 3, Housing.
The Local Development Framework policy is
given fully in the document available
separately. The thrust of the text, linking to
pricing of parking, states that the Council
has influence over the provision of public car
parking through the management and
pricing structure of its car parks.
Links with the Local Transport Plan
The County Council’s Local Transport Plan
(LTP) currently in its second edition (2006-
2011) states that Essex County Council will:
“…continue to work in partnership with each
District and Borough Council to develop
coherent parking regimes to ensure that car
drivers are encouraged to change their
travel choices.”
This PEP aims to support the LTP Traffic
Management Objective of
Tackling Congestion To reduce the
rate and incidence of congestion and
its effects on residents and
businesses in Essex by effective
Parking control and management
The LTP Traffic Management Strategy also
includes for:
A review of parking restrictions to
ensure that important traffic and busy
corridors remain congestion free.
The LTP characteristics and their relevance
to how parking enforcement schemes are
linked are shown by the highlighted sections
below:
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• on street charging and controls
and enforcement;
• specific proposals, or references to
the individual strategies, for the major
town centres and evidence that
enforcement issues have been
considered;
• Consistent and coherent strategy
which brings together planning
standards, charging and on street
controls;
• Clear strategy for effective
enforcement;
• Helps to reduce the traffic levels in
town centres whilst at the same time
ensuring enough good quality
publicly available parking to
support the continuing economic
viability of retail and leisure
investment in these locations;
• Discourages commuting by car,
particularly into congested areas
such as town centres – through
charging policies and active
management to favour short term
visitor parking;
• Where the overall amount, quality
and location of publicly owned car
parks are managed to deliver the
objectives of the LTP and
development plan.
Parking Enforcement Policy
Colchester has a Parking Enforcement
Policy (PEP) which is also published on the
Web Site.
The PEP is based upon prioritising clearly
identified needs, such as the needs of
people with disabilities, residents, visitors
and businesses and will help to manage
parking in the council’s areas on a fair and
consistent basis.

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Local Context
The PEP seeks to put LTP policy into a local
context and meet the needs of all road users
by clearly prioritising the different parking
enforcement needs across the Partnership
area. The aim is to manage parking in the
Partnership area on a fair and consistent
basis.
The PEP and local protocols:
The PEP helps support a better and safer
environment and generally improve parking
conditions across the Partnership area by:
• meeting the needs of all road users;
• supporting effective parking management;
• seeking to improve sustainable access;
• meeting environmental objectives;
• focussing on customer needs;
• being comprehensive, including
consideration of on- and off-street parking
enforcement regimes, on-street controls
and parking standards;
• co-ordinating and being compatible with
neighbouring decriminalised authorities;
• providing a clear strategy for effective
enforcement; and
• ensuring that the needs of disabled people,
motorcycles, buses, coaches, business
and freight are taken into account, along
with loading and signing issues in relation
to parking.
Aims and Objectives
The aim of enforcement is to maximise
compliance with regulations to make our
streets safer for all road users, particularly
vulnerable road users; to prevent
obstruction and delays (especially for buses
and emergency vehicles); to ensure that
parking bays are available for their intended
use and to improve the general street
scene.
Page 16 of 37
The purpose of Civil Parking Enforcement
can be summarised as follows:
• It will be safer for drivers and
pedestrians since the new focus on
enforcement means clearer roads and
pavements;
• It will be better for local businesses
since areas of short term parking such
as those outside local shops will
receive more attention, increasing the
potential for local trade;
• It will support town centre needs by
encouraging commuters and other
drivers to use long stay car parks
where appropriate thereby freeing up
short stay car park spaces for drivers
who need them;
• It will increase parking for residents by
discouraging commuters from parking
in permit only areas;
• It will increase Blue Badge benefits
since the increased enforcement of
existing parking spaces for disabled
drivers will improve availability for Blue
Badge holders.
In addition Civil Parking Enforcement will
have the following benefits:
• With fewer illegally parked cars there
will be fewer accidents, better traffic
flow and accessibility, because the
focus of enforcement will be on
lessening inconsiderate and dangerous
illegal parking in order to improve
safety and minimise congestion;
• Emergency and service vehicles will be
able to operate more effectively along
roads and low floor buses will be able
to reach the kerb at bus stops since
fewer inconsiderately parked vehicles
will be in their way;
• The general environment will improve
by providing a more environmentally
efficient transport system in terms of
reducing congestion, energy
conservation; use of other modes of

A Sense of Place
Colchester is a town in north Essex, in East
Anglia. Home to the University of Essex, the
Colchester Institute and an Army Garrison,
and with its attractive old buildings, Roman
wall, castle and proximity to Constable
country, Colchester is an interesting place to
visit.
Colchester has a Roman history, and claims
to be the oldest recorded town in England.
The Roman heritage led to the urban area
being set out in grid pattern. Colchester is
similar in many ways to Chester, Exeter and
York.
The population of the borough is about
188,000, making it the second largest non-
unitary district outside London. The borough
has 72 schools, and both an expanding built
up area and large rural area to its borough,
including market towns and many
picturesque villages, a port, and Mersea
island which is separated at high tide.
Parking Enforcement Priorities
Enforcement is targeted to tackle problem
areas. The PEP specification provides a
schedule and prescribes the hierarchy of
patrol visits (high priority, medium or low),
dependent upon the location type and
requirements.
This ensures a good parking enforcement
regime that is both consistent and
transparent. It is also flexible, allowing early,
late and specialist patrols to take place as
required.
Links with other council priorities.
Our strategic vision is for Colchester - a
place where people want to live, work and
visit. Success will make Colchester the
place of choice for visitors and residents – a
borough with vibrant and empowered
communities and high regard for the
wellbeing of the environment.
Each member of staff contributes to the
council’s strategic vision through smart
objectives, service plans linked to the
Strategy, known as the golden thread.
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Challenges of Parking Enforcement
Enforcement must be balanced and
prioritised on an ‘as required’ basis
depending upon resources available,
including:
• the needs of disabled people and
effective enforcement of parking
regulations to enable easy access to
activities and facilities.
• road safety initiatives (especially for
pedestrians, cyclists and other
vulnerable road users), and
emergency access requirements.
• managing local parking problem
areas, e.g. for child safety near
schools caused by the school run
(including Safer Routes to School
initiatives) and associated short-stay
on-street parking activity.
• legitimate parking and loading
requirements of businesses, taking
into account commercial needs for
delivery and servicing movements
and the opportunity for changing
delivery schedules and vehicle sizes.
• supporting the safe and efficient
operation of the public transport
network, especially on low-floor bus
corridors.
• enforcement against observed
parking patterns of demand to allow
targeting of known problem areas
The basis for this is fair, consistent,
transparent, policy-driven and quality-led
operational enforcement.
Enforcement and parking restrictions
There are two types of enforcement carried
out in Colchester: mobile and foot patrol.
The mobile teams cover the outer areas of
the borough and schools, and the foot
patrols cover a selection of predefined
beats, and in doing so cover all areas on a
fair basis.
On normal enforcement days, there are two
out of three enforcement teams present.
This equates to twelve officers plus Leading
Officers in charge of each team who should
be able to overlay that provision.
Random or specific enforcement operations,
including provision to cover special events,
means the extension to cover a full range of
times.
Announcing Changes to Operations
Our own assessments, including visits to
other authorities, indicate that Colchester is
following best practice.
The Operational Guidance encourages
councils to maintain links with neighbouring
authorities and others in order to investigate
and build best practice. A visit was made to
Portsmouth in order to see the parking
operation, and gather information about their
parking machine maintenance service. Links
with the Ipswich operation exist and two
visits were made in the year. Other
authorities have visited Colchester.
The most successful operations have been
responsive to change, and Colchester
historically has been no exception. The
challenge is to stay ahead of the legislation
in order to provide an economic, efficient,
responsive enforcement service.
We have also tried to publicise details of
where changes have been made, in order to
conform with the transparency requirements
of the latest Guidance.
The most obvious changes within the year
were to comply with the new Regulations
which brought about Civil Parking
Enforcement , with the introduction of new
legislation, changes to the way Penalty
Charges are issued: These are now in two
bands, for more serious and less serious
contraventions. More serious would be
parking on double yellow lines, attracting a
£70 penalty charge, and the less serious
being overstaying a ticket in a car park,
attracting a £50 penalty charge. Both levels
are still subject to prompt payment discounts
of 50%.
The changes to legislation also meant
retraining for staff in the new scheme, with
some extra contravention codes to deal
with. A very large piece of work centred
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around making the penalty charge notices,
official documentation and correspondence
compliant with the changed legislation and
new Regulations, and making changes to
the database in order to be remain
complaint. This was all completed
successfully by the start of the new
legislation.
Enforcement Pattern Changes
It is good practice to review enforcement
operations regularly, and make changes to
patterns on a random but regular basis.
Historically, enforceable restrictions have
generally been within a core set of hours
from 08:00 – 18:00 (e.g. single yellow lines),
however there are many other restrictions
which exist outside these times (some bus
stops and all double yellow lines, for
example are “at any time”).
Additional enforcement hours were
considered as part of the original
enforcement planning process and have
traditionally been within the scope of 07:30
to 22:00 depending upon the day in
question. Provision was reviewed in light of
casual observations of compliance outside
these hours and evenings enforcement
extended on a random basis.
Tackling Schools Enforcement
Possibly one of the greatest areas of conflict
is that around schools at the time children
are arriving and leaving.
Schools enforcement was therefore
reviewed in the year, with a team being
dedicated to visiting all enforceable school
markings in rotation. This gives the ability to
make extra patrols if deemed necessary,
and feedback from the local Neighbourhood
Action Panels is used in this respect. The
schools team has worked with locally based
PCSOs to good effect, having been reported
in local newspapers.
 Changes within car parks
On Street Parking Places The parking service was visited by Mobilise,
In common with many regional centres, representing disabled motorists. The aim
much of the town centre is restricted by was to investigate the recently installed
yellow lines – with parking being available Automatic Number Plate Recognition
off-street in car parks. system in car parks, designed to make use
The High Street is a Restricted Zone, being of the barriers easier. But the visit was also
wholly restricted except for sign-marked intended to explore the difficulties faced by
bays. There is disabled badge parking and disabled motorists generally. The visit was
goods vehicle loading provision in the High unannounced amongst staff in order to get a
Street and nearby. fully representative view.
There is presently no on-street charging for As a result of the visit, Colchester was
parking. featured in the Mobilse magazine.
Off Street Parking Places
We provide eleven off-street town centre car
parks and a number of other facilities in
local towns and villages.
In all surface car parks the payment
technology used is Pay and Display, with a
Pay by Phone service to back this up. The
Pay by Phone service involves a one-off
registration, and is then cashless in
operation.
There are two town centre multi-storey car
parks which incorporate a barrier control
“Pay on Foot” system, where credit cards
are also accepted.
Full details of all Colchester car parks are
given on the parking pages at The ANPR trial was a complete success,
www.colchester.gov.uk/parking using the and this visit reported on some of the less
map selector on the car parks page. appropriate angles of existing provision, and
Parking types are split between long, as a direct result led to a number of access
medium and short stay. In common with improvements in car parks.
most other large centres, no long-stay Our improvements were tried out at
parking is available in the town centre. A Sheepen Road car park, which included the
diagram of the split is reproduced here. development of our “Welcome Mat” concept,

Page 19 of 37
dealing with access considerations having
no kerb-line step, a new signage unit with all
information at the correct height, and paired
machines so that if one were out of service it
would not involve far to walk to another.
Realising that parking services are about
more than just the car, the Welcome Mat
also incorporates signage which is
consistent with pedestrian fingerpost
signage in the town, and details of other
special notices in an integrated poster case.
This innovation was reported in the sector
magazine “Parking Review”.
The innovative design was shortlisted in the
“Living Streets” category at the British
Parking Awards, and came in second place.
Code of Practice for Civil Enforcement Officers
A code of practice for Civil Enforcement
Officers (CEOs) is being developed by
sector organisations. This will be
Following this induction, a week-long City &
Guilds course and examination must be
passed before any tickets can be issued.
It can be seen that we take the correct issue
of PCNs very seriously. It is also worth
dispelling the myth about bonuses at this
point: CEOs are salaried and do not receive
any penalty incentives.
Representations Handling
Challenges and Representations are dealt
with by the council by an in-house team,
divided into Case Officers and Appeals
Officers. Any informal challenges are
handled in the Case Management section.
Formal Representations are handled by a
separate group, giving an independent
“second look” to cases where formal
Representations have arisen.
Local Authority Structure
Enforcement in Colchester is carried out by
Colchester Borough Council, which is a
second-layer authority in a two-tier local
authority structure (Essex County Council
being the other authority). The organisations
involved in the civil enforcement process are
shown in the attached
Road Traffic
fic Act 1991 diagram, which also
Traffic Management Act 2004
replaced by the 200

adopted when produced. shows the differences

Statutory Instrument
nstrument “Colchester”
Colchester has its own 2002 No. 21866 ROAD TRAFFIC between the
The Road Traffic
ffic (Permitted Parking Area

handbook for CEOs which

and Special Parking Area) (County of Essex)
(Borough of Colchester) Order 2002 2007/08 process
NATIONAL
gives details of shift GOVERNMENT
Under TMA Schedule
chedule 8 Article (4) an SPA/PPA
Civil
becomes a ivil Enforcement Area and the 2008/09
procedures, approach, Circular 1/95 DfT Guidance revised system.
COUNTY

and the underpinning

s87 guidance “Statutory guidance to
local authorities on the civil
COUNCIL Since 2002,
enforcement of parking contraventions”

Regulations. and (1/95 replacement) “parking policy

and enforcement Operational guidance
Essex County
There is also a parking
to local authorities”
Council has
Parking Orders
office version of the had an
document for administration
Off Street On Street
Agreement with
purposes. Colchester
All CEOs undergo an
Parking Enforcement Policy
Borough Council to carry
extremely thorough training Parking Operational Plan
BOROUGH
COUNCIL out all enforcement in the
regime including up to two Colchester Area on its
PO Manual PA Manual
months beat area behalf. The county council
familiarisation plus remains the highway
Enforcement and Office Operations
‘buddying’ with experienced authority and on-street
officers to learn evidence enforcement authority, but with
gathering, pocket book note- duties being carried out by the
taking, handheld computer usage and the Borough, which also enforces its own off-
types of contraventions occurring in different street car parks.
areas.

Page 20 of 37
Towards the end of the year, joint working
proposals with Braintree and Uttlesford
District Councils were investigated and this
has subsequently led to a Parking
Partnership with Colchester as the lead
authority for the three areas. It is envisaged
that, during the 2009/10 financial year, all
front line staff of the three authorities will
transfer to Colchester, which will handle all
administration centrally whilst retaining
locally-based enforcement staff .
Other Related Issues
Civil Enforcement Officers (CEOs) have
powers to inspect Blue Badges to make
sure they are being used correctly. Blue
badges are administered by the county
council, and lists of lost or stolen badges are
received frequently and passed to Civil
Enforcement Officers in case these are seen
being used.
Where CEOs encounter abandoned or
untaxed vehicles on beat, they will report
them to the Street Care section which can
take action (under alternative legislation) to
deal appropriately with them.
Customer Service
The Parking Service focuses on Customer
needs by:
• Ensuring an efficient, robust and
customer-friendly parking system.
• Effective tackling of parking fraud,
and abuse of the Blue Badge
Scheme.
• Ensuring an effective, fair and
consistent enforcement operation to
maximise compliance with
Colchester’s parking regulations.
• Consulting and communicating with
both internal and external
stakeholders to inform parking
management issues.
The service meets customers special needs
effectively for special events such as the
Mersea Regatta, Dedham Street Fare, and
other town centre and local events by
providing a safety no waiting cones service.
Page 21 of 37
Special operations take place around
football matches, where CEOs work closely
in Partnership with Police.
Enforcement overview
The borough council has enabled Internet
and automated telephone payment systems,
and accepts credit/debit card transactions
over the telephone on the general
administration number. The service also
accepts cheques.
Challenges and representations can be
made in writing, by email or by e-form using
the Internet. Details of what the process
entails are included on the council’s website.
Communication and Consultation
During the year, consultation has taken
place about the Resident Parking Review.
This is an ongoing review which is gathering
informal information about the existing
schemes to help the county council make
improvements.
Contacting Parking Services
Contact can be made:
• Through the Website
www.colchester.gov.uk;
• In Person at the Customer Service
Centre in Colchester High Street;
• By telephone on 01206 282316;
• In writing to PO Box 5575 Colchester
CO1 1XQ.
Parking information is provided to the public
in a number of ways.
The Internet site contains lots of data about
the pay or challenge process, and also the
locations of car parks.
A leaflet is produced regularly and the latest
edition was sent door to door in the borough
in October 2008; the Parking Information
Guide details parking information and was
produced at no cost to the council.
Information and Enquiries
There have been 34 enquiries including
comments and complaints during the
financial year to 31 March 2009. At least two
of these were formal compliments.

Digest
The digest included here gives actual
answers to some frequently asked
questions. In the main these are answers
given by email to correspondents.
• Schools
There are over 70 schools within the
“ Borough of Colchester and parking
attendants carry out patrols around most
of them, priority being given to those
where parent parking compromises safety or
causes the most inconvenience to other
road users. Parent parking at school start
and finish times generates more demand for
parking enforcement than any other parking
issue and is a national problem and is by no
means particular to Colchester. As far as
school zig zags are concerned, parking
attendants can issue an instant penalty
charge notice as long as the markings are
backed by a valid traffic regulation order.
However, parent parkers generally comply
with any waiting and parking restrictions
when parking attendants are seen to be
patrolling, but I am afraid that parking
attendants cannot be outside every school
twice a day, every day. The next day when
parking attendants are somewhere else, of
course, chaos rules again. Regrettably,
parking law is unhelpful in this respect. The
law allows motorists to stop on single and
double yellow lines in order to set down or
pick up passengers and to load or unload
which means that parking attendants must
observe for long enough to satisfy
themselves that this is not the case, before
they can even consider issuing penalty
charge notices. As with much of the parking
that we patrol, the associated parking
problems are ongoing and as one vehicle
leaves, another arrives. It seems that some
parents value their own child's delivery and
collection over and above the safety of all or
for the greater good; whatever we do to try
and educate these situations, parents
seemingly will not abide by the law.
Page 22 of 37
Whilst I appreciate the situation is
frustrating, I hope that you will be able
appreciate that parking attendants simply
cannot be everywhere all of the time.
We now have a schools enforcement
“ team. The schools team now goes to
each school in rotation. It is possibly the
most frustrating task in enforcement – a
barrage of abuse (in front of children even)
and people generally behave when we are
present; anarchy reigns once when we
leave.
We enforce at all sorts of times (and can
“ get stats if necessary) but the “schools
team” can do extra daytime patrols, if we
know a time/day and place of particular
problems - we’ll add to the list to take a look
(though I foresee now that everyone will
comply when CEOs are present, and will
only ever be naughty when we are not
there). The school team thus visits on a
random and regular basis, and can be
requested to give it an additional look in
between times - though the pull on finite
resources is great and any additional visits
here will mean less elsewhere.
• Verge Parking
Probably the next most enquired-about
“
item, after ‘parking outside schools’ and
‘shops’.
There is currently some debate at
national level on this subject. Principally
because in London, ‘pavement parking’ (an
ambiguous term – “footway” or
“carriageway” are preferred) is universally
not allowed, unless specifically permitted by
signage and Order. This is unlikely to be
extended yet to the rest of the country). It
may help to understand what can, and what
cannot be enforced by the council, and why
enforcement appears odd when it happens
in some places and not others. Many people
ask about enforcing parking generally on
verges.
 Verge and footway parking can be
“ unsightly and inconsiderate and can
damage the surface and services (like
phone line ducting) that are buried
underneath. Presently however, greensward
and verges cannot be enforced generally
unless there are parking restrictions that
cover these areas (normally this would be
yellow lines at the kerbside next to them).
Parking enforcement is regulated (often by
seemingly odd rules) but this limits the
council in the level of what it can and cannot
do. The government under the Department
for Transport makes rules to say what can
be enforced and how, and the county
council is responsible for where restrictions
are put on roads.
Yellow line restrictions also apply to verges
and footways next door to them but where
there are no yellow line restrictions, with few
exceptions, we cannot enforce parking on
verges in other areas.
(For completeness, the exception is
enforcement of parking across dropped-kerb
footway crossings (such as crossing points
designed to assist mobility impaired people
in crossing the road) which do not need to
be marked to be enforced.)
Otherwise the Police may be able to assist
with bad parking – but only where it is
causing obstruction.
• Parking Charges in car parks
The policy in Colchester is to provide a
“ variety of parking to suit peoples needs,
whilst influencing driver behaviour to
avoid adding to congestion at peak
times.
There is a core tariff and incentives to park
off-peak. The fees are set at a level to
reflect the facilities provided with appropriate
parking charges, in line with shopping
available in other similar locations, and in
support of local and national policies.
At the town centre surface car parks, there
is a selection of time bands in different car
parks. You can park from ½ hour from 50p
(at Britannia), 40 minutes from 90p we have
Page 23 of 37
re-introduced the 1 hour band, 2 hours is
available at various charges, and we now
have special offers (designed in conjunction
with town centre traders) aside from the
core tariff. With the Day Out offer you can
park for 5 hours for £2 – a value equivalent
to just 40p per hour. Not all fees have been
increased; all charges at Britannia car park
have been held. Details of fees and offers at
the different car parks can be found at
www.colchester.gov.uk/parking under the
“Promotions” link.
Unfortunately the whole picture is not
usually reported and therefore a view is
promoted that everything is the same (and
expensive). This however is not the case.
In long stay there is a day rate and only car
parked per bay per day usually, meaning
low turnover. The prices are normally higher
there to dissuade peak hour travel on
grounds of cost and supply.
In short stay, short visits are encouraged to
ensure that spaces in the town centre are
turned over regularly off-peak, and therefore
a space is usually available as normally
some-one is just leaving. Here, we also
have incentives to use certain locations,
where special offers are provided – in the
same way that retailers do. Long stays are
dissuaded on the grounds of price (in some
other towns longer stays are prohibited in
short stay car parks).
With the multi-storeys, a middle-ground
price is provided simply on the balance of
highest volumes and trends in supply and
demand, since these locations are large and
become much fuller more regularly. There is
a need to balance usage across all available
car parks to encourage best use of the
resources and to reduce congestion caused
by queuing and throughput at busiest times.
Working together with town centre traders,
to pick the right promotions, Colchester
Borough Council will over summer be
expanding the current off-peak offers to
more car parks (such as St Mary's), so more
people will be able to take advantage of
better value parking outside the peak hours.
As a local authority we are called upon to
lead and support transport policy.
This work is actually quite innovative within
the Parking Sector (although it has been the
norm for transport and retail for some time)
and because of this, it's vital for us to get the
offers right first time if they are to succeed
ahead of simple bottom line accounting. Any
less income to the council will result in a
shortfall somewhere, and there is simply no
room for that. So you can see the
requirement to get this right is of utmost
importance.

Page 24 of 37
Policy and Performance Appraisals
The OG recommends many areas which
should be included in this report and this
section outlines areas measured.
Objectives & Performance
The wider performance issues, including
overall transport aspects such as road
safety, traffic flow, transfer of car journeys to
public transport (changing travel behaviour),
environmental (air-quality) issues, will be
explained in more detail by the County
Council in their report.
Colchester’s contribution is limited to off-
street parking, including the encouragement
of lower-emission vehicles, in the Sheepen
Road car park.
The on street parking enforcement
agreement is operated under a Deficit
Support contract – where the county council
ultimately underwrites any shortfalls in the
system, after any local contributions have
been agreed.
The borough works closely with the county
in reviewing existing restrictions, signage
and road markings.
Training is carried out to a minimum of City
& Guilds level 2 standards in order to
guarantee the quality of service. All CEOs
have undergone this training, and receive
regular top-ups.
Delivery
During 2007, a new series of special offers
was being trialled for further roll-out into the
new year.
The problem identified was that the off-
street tariff was not sufficiently attractive to
shoppers. So in a joint venture with the
Colchester Retail and Business Association
steps were taken to develop and trial a
series of special parking offers. These have
proved very successful in maintaining ticket
sales levels in off-street car parks, and in
shifting demand towards off-peak times.
There remains a number of planned
improvements with parking signage
(following the successful prototyping of the
new range of signage) and planned future
actions are to extend the coverage of the
Page 25 of 37
Welcome Mat and signage package to all
town centre car parks.
Colchester compares itself with other local
authorities, including accessibility provision
and ticket prices. Even against other towns
which have the benefit of Park & Ride, with
the latest special offers and other measure,
we now compare very favourably.
Performance against traffic management
priorities:
Reducing contraventions. The number of
contraventions which were issued a PCN
reduced in the year. The service did expect
a dip due to a cluster of staff turnover and
sickness.
Statistics for Parking PCNs
The following pages give more detailed
statistical information in the form of tables,
graphs and charts. There is some
amplification and description of the more
notable statistics.
The following charts show data from the last
financial year (2008-09).
PCNs issued by penalty
16,000
14,000
12,000
number of PCNs
10,000
lower level
8,000
higher level
6,000
4,000
2,000
0
On Off
Street Street
From 31 March 2008, the penalty charge
level varied according to the “seriousness”
of the contravention. The chart above
demonstrates that the more serious
contraventions are found on-street and
lesser contraventions, off-street. Examples
of the higher (£70) penalty include
contravening yellow lines. The lesser (£50)
contraventions include overstaying time on a issued in 2008/09 may still be being
parking ticket. pursued.
PCNs paid by rate PCNs by rate paid

12,000 12,000

10,000 Total
10,000 Number of PCNs
number of PCNs paid

PCNs paid 8,000 2007/08

w hich
8,000 6,000
w ere Total
issued at PCNs
4,000
6,000 the higher 2008/09
band 2,000
4,000 Number of
-
PCNs paid
w hich
2,000
w ere
issued at
0 the low er
On Street

Off Street

band
EO

CH

This chart shows the amount of penalties The timescale described above changed
which are paid at each of the two rates slightly under the new regulations
explained above. mentioned above. More penalties were paid
at the initial discount amount during 208/09
% of PCNs paid than the year before. The penalties paid at
other rates may be due to arrangements
100.0%
made with the bailiff.
90.0% Fewer of the later cases in 2008/09 have yet
80.0% reached that stage.
70.0%

60.0%
% of
50.0%
PCNs
40.0% paid

30.0%

20.0%

10.0%

0.0%
Total PCNs Total PCNs
2007/08 2008/09

Not all penalties ever get paid. Collection

rates above 70% are considered to be
acceptable. Some penalties are cancelled
and some have an extended life before
being collected. The timescale for collection
may be up to a year – so some of those

Page 26 of 37
Statistical Tables
The tables on the following pages give required and additional information.
The rows shown in blue and bold in the attached tables are statutorily required. The rest of the
information is given voluntarily against guidelines on best practice.

Table 1
ISSUED PCNs
Description Total Total On Off CCTV
(included in
PCNs PCNs Street Street columns to
2007/08 2008/09 EO CH the left)

Number of PCNs Issued 19,636 18,062 15,341 2,721

Number of higher level PCNs
13,672 13,397 275
issued
Number of lower level PCNs
4,390 1,944 2,446
issued
Percentage of higher level PCNs
75.7% 74.2% 1.5%
issued
Percentage of lower level PCNs
24.3% 10.8% 13.5%
issued
Number of Reg 9 PCNs issued 18,062 15,341 2,721

Number of Reg 10 PCNs issued 0 0 0

The table shows that slightly fewer PCNs were issued in the financial year 2008/09 than the
previous year.
This was partially due to understaffing in the enforcement teams which takes a time to resolve,
as new staff must undergo thorough training before starting enforcement, which can be a lead
time of around two months from recruitment.
2008/09 is the first year when the lower and higher rate PCNs were issued. There were fewer
off-street higher PCNs as would be expected, due to the type of contraventions able to be
issued there (the contravention for an overstay is a lower charge).
“Reg 9” PCNs are those issued by a Civil Enforcement Officer on street. A “Reg 10” is a PCN
from the new legislation which can be sent in the post under certain circumstances. No “Reg 10”
PCNs were issued.

Page 27 of 37
 Table 2
PCNs PAID
Total Total On Off CCTV
Description PCNs PCNs Street Street (included in
columns to
2007/08 2008/09 EO CH the left)

Number of PCNs paid 15,334 13,161 11,197 1,964

Number of PCNs paid which were
3,191 1,418 1,773
issued at the lower band
Number of PCNs paid which were
9,970 9,779 191
issued at the higher band
Percentage of PCNs paid which
24.2% 12.7% 90.3%
were issued at the lower band
Percentage of PCNs paid which
75.8% 87.3% 9.7%
were issued at the higher band
Number of PCNs paid at discount
rate 10,517 11,199 9,553 1,646
(i.e. within 14 days)
Number of PCNs paid at full rate 1,960 1,428 1,203 225
Number of PCNs paid after Charge
Certificate served (i.e. at increased 830 502 415 87
rate)
Percentage of PCNs paid at Charge
5.4% 3.8% 3.7% 4.4%
Certificate
Number of PCNs paid at another rate
2,027 32 26 6
(e.g. negotiated with bailiff, etc).
Percentage of PCNs paid 78.1% 72.9% 73.0% 72.2%
Percentage of PCNs paid at discount
68.6% 85.1% 85.3% 83.8%
rate

The number of PCNs paid was lesser in 2008/09, than the year before, although there were
fewer PCNs issued overall, This may also reflect the issuing pattern which varies slightly
naturally over time. Many more PCNs were paid at the lower band in off street car parks than on
street; conversely many more PCNs were paid at the higher on-street.
The percentage of PCNs paid is not reflective, as the recovery process can take up to a year.
For the last PCNs issued, this has not yet been completed, and there is chance to take
additional enforcement action on these PCNs.
The full recovery process is explained diagrammatically at the website: http://www.patrol-
uk.info/site/index.php

Page 28 of 37
 Table 3
Total Total On Off CCTV
Description PCNs PCNs Street Street (included in
columns to
2007/08 2008/09 EO CH the left)

PCNs CHALLENGED
Number of PCNs cancelled as a
result of an informal or a formal 3,383 3,268
representation
Number of PCNs against which an
informal or formal representation 1530 1814
was made
Number of PCNs where informal
1519 1802
representations are made
Number of informal rep dismissals
58 96
that proceed to NTO stage
No of NTOs issued 2859 2377
Percentage of PCNs cancelled at
17.23% 18.09%
any stage.
Number of PCNs written off for
other reasons (e.g. CEO error or 1475 261
driver untraceable)
Number of vehicles immobilised 0 0

Number of vehicles removed. 0 0

Percentage of PCNs written off for
other reasons
7.51% 1.45%
(e.g. CEO error or driver
untraceable)
Number of cases where no further
3,839 3,529 2,971 558
action was taken

Presently, correspondence cannot be separated easily for reporting purposes between on-street
and off-street.
Of note here is the number of extra informal representations (or “challenges”) at the first stage
made (considering the lesser number of PCNs issued) – which is a good result in light of the
objectives of TMA to make the system fairer and more transparent to the motorist. The council
will usually hold the discount at this stage. There is an easy route to making a challenge by
email or using an e-form online, and the figures may represent an increase in the amount of
people having an Internet connection – backed up by clearer options on the PCN itself.
No vehicles were immobilised (“clamped”) or removed as a result of initial parking legislation
(although the right exists, and ,ay also be used by bailiffs in the later stages of the process).
Revisions to legislation mean that only multiple offenders would be considered for clamping.

Page 29 of 37
 Table 4
APPEALS TO THE TRAFFIC PENALTY TRIBUNAL
Description Total Total On Off CCTV
(included in
PCNs PCNs Street Street columns to
2007/08 2008/09 EO CH the left)

Number of appeals to adjudicators 28 18 16 2

Number of appeals refused 22 9

Number of appeals non-contested 0 2

Percentage of formal representations
0.14% 0.10%
that go to appeal
Percentage of appeals allowed
78.57% 38.89%
(where the appellant 'wins')
Percentage of appeals dismissed
(or 'refused ' where the council 32.14% 50.00%
'wins')
Percentage of appeals to Traffic
Penalty Tribunal that are not 0.00% 11.11%
contested and reasons for this

The number of appeals to the Independent Adjudicator fell in the most recent year, down to 1 in
1000 cases. The Adjudicator only sees a very small percentage of cases which are issued, and
then still half of them are decided in favour of the council. This is decided on a 51:49 rule – and
does not apportion blame, more that one side’s evidence weighs heavier than the other.

Table 5
OTHER
Description Total Total On Off CCTV
(included in
PCNs PCNs Street Street columns to
2007/08 2008/09 EO CH the left)

Percentage of PCNs taken to Court

2044 1945 1205 740
Order
Number of CEOs employed 20.04 16.50
Average number of appeals per
1.1 1.2
officer

If no appeal is made, the PCN continues via a Notice to Owner document to Charge Certificate,
after which it is registered as a debt. At least two documents are served prior to that stage.
Then a bailiff may be instructed to collect the debt. At that stage the council generally takes no
further part.
Other data shows that the number of Appeals per officer employed remained fairly static,
indicating a consistent approach to enforcement across the team.
Page 30 of 37
 Financial
On - Street Parking Income and Expenditure Account for Colchester Borough Council
Agency - On-Street 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 Comments
Actuals Actuals Actuals
£ £ £
INCOME
Penalty Charges (PCN's) 431,783 480,759 397,591
Parking Permits/Season Tickets 224,666 229,949 222,793
Other - as specified:
1. Write-off of unpaid PCNs included in debtor raised -68,838
at 31.03.2006 - no longer enforceable
Total Income 587,611 710,708 620,383
EXPENDITURE
DIRECT COSTS
Clothing, Uniforms and Laundry 6,470
Printing, Postage & Stationery 10,008 811 10,996
Equipment, Tools and Materials 1,727 3,246 2,957
Signs and Lines Maintenance - 6,240 3,710
Pay and Display or Other Equipment Maintenance
Cash collection
Management Fee (to ECC) 3,172 3,260 3,354
Pay Back of Start up Costs/1st Year Acceptable 53,280 53,280 7,505
Deficits (to ECC)
Parking IT System 2,583
Other- as Specified
1. Head of Service Support Costs 5,879
2. Parking Services Management Costs 594,768 10,708 12,162
3. Publicity re Civil Parking Enforcement 432 1,038 Charged directly to on-street account
4. Parking Enforcement Costs 360,999 320,942 Costs of PA/CEO and Supervisors
5. Parking Systems Costs 184,190 248,959 Costs of back-office support for parking enforcement
6. Capital Charges 14,170 13,441 Decrim equipment & penalty ticket machines
Total Direct Costs 668,834 637,336 634,117
INDIRECT COSTS (reapportioned costs)
SUPPORT SERVICES
Office Accommodation 7,430 11,979 38,876
Financial Services 11,324 13,161 12,641
Cashiers 6,034 2,670 2,894
Human Resources 3,743 8,136 7,213
Information, Communications and Technology 36,594 21,434 19,363
Other - as specified:
1. Administration Support 7,529
2. Corporate Services 12,352 5,256 2,276
3. Customer Service Centre 18,365 27,089 26,633
4. Executive Management Team 1,005 1,409 3,110
5. Internal Audit 867 1,543 802
6. Legal Services 1,409 1,110 1,265
7. Fleet Costs 6,573 14,463
8. Estates 60,737
Total Indirect Costs 106,652 100,360 190,274
Total Expenditure 775,486 737,696 824,390

SURPLUS/(DEFICIT) FOR THE YEAR -187,875 -26,988 -204,007

SURPLUS/(DEFICIT) B/FWD 303,599 115,722 88,733 remainder of balance sheet reserve
SURPLUS/(DEFICIT) C/WD 115,724 88,734 -115,274 debtor for decrim deficit to be reimbursed by ECC

Three financial years’ data are given here in order to illustrate recent trends. Direct costs of
providing the service have decreased over these years from £0.67M to £0.63M. Income has
fluctuated over the years.

Page 31 of 37
 More information about PCNs
Cancelled cases
The top percentages, and number of cases for the most commonly selected “stop recovery”
actions in the last year, and the reasons for them, Issues/grounds of appeal at informal and
formal representation stage. Stages of under ½% are not shown.

Cancelled – PA Error 86 0.5%

Cancelled – Not Issued By Officer 109 0.6%
Write Off - Untraceable
Cancelled – Pay and Display 116 0.6%
Write Off - Bailiff Untraceable
Cancelled – PA Registration entry mismatch 124 0.7%
Cancelled – Foreign Vehicle 129 0.7% Debt Collectors - Sent to bailiff

Cancelled – Valid Permit 156 0.9% TEC - Warrant Prior Review

Stage

Cancelled – General Reason 177 1.0% TEC - Selected For Debt

Registration

Cancelled – Disabled Badge Holder 329 1.8% Payment - Accept Part

Payment

Cancelled – Vehicle Drove Away 374 2.1% Payment - Full Payment

Received
Cancelled – Test Notice (used to set time) 1063 5.9%
Written off and Paid cases
The percentage (of all cases) which were written off,
and the reasons for this, and the number of cases paid.
Cancelled - PA Error

Write Off – Untraceable 123 0.7% Cancelled - Not Issued By

Officer
Write Off – Bailiff Untraceable 129 0.7% Cancelled - Pay and Display

Debt Collectors – Sent to Bailiff A 242 1.3% Cancelled - PA Error,

Incorrect Registration
Debt Collectors – Sent to Bailiff B 245 1.4% Cancelled - Foreign Vehicle

TEC – Warrant Prior Review Stage 318 1.8% Cancelled - Valid Permit

TEC – Selected For Debt Registration 332 1.8% Cancelled - General Reason

Payment – Accept Part Payment 478 2.6% Cancelled - Disabled Badge

Holder
Payment – Full Payment Received 12690 70.3% Cancelled – VDA

Cancelled - Test Notice

Page 32 of 37
PCNs Issued
2008/09 streets where most PCNs were issued 2007/08 streets where most PCNs were issued

High Street
Crouch Street
High Street
Head Street
Crouch Street
Vineyard Street Car Park
Vineyard Street Car Park
Priory Street Car Park
Head Street
West Stockw ell Street
Priory Street Car Park
Middleborough Car Park
North Hill
North Hill
West Stockw ell Street
Sheepen Road Car Park
Balkerne Passage
North Station Road
Middleborough Car Park
St Nicholas Street
St Nicholas Street
Coast Road, West Mersea
Culver Street East
Oxford Road, Colchester
Butt Road Car Park
Butt Road Car Park
St Botolphs Car Park
Bergholt Road
Castle Bailey
Bergholt Road

These graphs show the locations where most PCNs were issued in 2007/08 and 2008/09.
There has been little change in the locations that most PCNs have been issued.

The following graph shows PCN issue rate over time showing financial years 2007/08 and
2008/09.
2500

financial year 2007/08 financial year 2008/09

2000

1500

1000

500

0
May

May

May
Jul

Nov

Jul

Nov

Jul
Jan

Feb

Jun

Aug

Sep

Oct

Jan

Feb

Jun

Aug

Sep

Oct

Jan

Feb

Jun

Aug

Sep
Mar

Apr

Mar

Apr

Mar

Apr
Dec

Dec

2007 2008 2009

Page 33 of 37
PCNs by contravention
The type of contravention for which the ten most common PCN types were issued each year is
shown here. 2007/08 is the inner data set. 2008/09 the outer set.
The proportion of PCNs issued in permit bays was higher in 2007/08 but otherwise the
information suggests a similar pattern of contravention and consistent PCN issuing. The permit
bays contravention was replaced by different contravention codes by new legislation for
2008/09. Parked in a Restricted Street relates to yellow lines.

Parked in a Restricted Street during

prescribed hours

2008/09 Parked in a Permit Place w ithout valid

permit

Parked in Disabled Bay w ithout a

2007/08 badge

Car Parks: Parked w ith no ticket on

display

Parked longer than permitted

Parked w here no parking or loading

permitted

Car Parks: Still parked after expiry of

ticket

Wrong class of vehicle for the

parking bay

Parked in bus stop

Parked in loading bay not loading

Page 34 of 37
Statistical information for Bus Lane and Moving Traffic PCNs
It is not required to report on these since this council does not undertake any of the
enforcement described.

Page 35 of 37
Other Relevant References
Documents
Department for Transport: Guidance on the inspection and enforcement of blue badges for
police, traffic wardens, local authority parking attendants, civil enforcement officers and issuing
local authorities.
Code of Practice for Traffic Enforcement Centre, Northampton; CCTV user group; and so on.
Special Report: Parking Enforcement by Local Authorities.
Advice and Guidance from the Local Government Ombudsmen. December 2004.
A Review of Decriminalised Parking Enforcement for the British Parking Association by Richard
Childs, June 2005.
Glossary
BPA British Parking Association
CPE Civil Parking Enforcement
CEO Civil Enforcement Officer
OG Operational Guidance
PEP Colchester Parking Enforcement Policy
POP Colchester Parking Service Operational Protocols
PCN Penalty Charge Notice
SG Statutory Guidance
RTA1991 Road Traffic Act 1991 – superseded by TMA2004 on 31/03/2008
RTRA1984 Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984
TMA2004 Traffic Management Act 2004

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Web Site

www.colchester.gov.uk/parking

Colchester is a member of the

British Parking Association

End Notes and Sources

i
‘The Secretary of State’s Statutory Guidance to Local Authorities on the Civil Enforcement of
Parking Contraventions’, DfT, February 2008. This guidance is issued under section 87 of the
TMA. Under section 87, local authorities must have regard to the information contained in the
guidance.

ii
Operational Guidance to Local Authorities: Parking Policy and Enforcement’, DfT, March 2008 (Second impression
with minor amendments - May 2008).

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