Annual Parking and Enforcement Report 2007/2008 FOREWORD

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Annual Parking and Enforcement Report 2007/2008 FOREWORD

Foreword
I am very pleased to present Southampton’s first Annual Parking and Enforcement
Report.

The Administration set out its agreed parking policy in March 2008. From this we will be
responsible for delivering on a number of the policy commitments including: offering a fair
deal on parking for residents; improving our environment – globally and locally; involving
residents in key decisions and protecting their interest; making our street environment
more attractive; and improving local transport.

We want to make Southampton a city of opportunity and transport has a key role to play in
delivering that aspiration. Our work will focus on delivering a sustainable Southampton which
manages its growth; provides a strong economy; which is safe, inclusive and vibrant.

This report focuses on what we have done in the sometimes controversial area of parking. We will
increase transparency by publishing this parking report annually and continue to make
improvements to the parking regime by promoting fairness for residents, businesses and visitors.

I am committed to ensuring that the Administration’s aspiration of making Southampton a

more listening Council is at the heart of what we do. We need to make sure we treat and
communicate with people professionally and in a caring manner. We pride ourselves on the
tone of our correspondence and our responsiveness, which in turn has delivered results on
the ground. We have also implemented a number of changes that have embedded this
commitment to listening. We have introduced additional residents parking bays in Coxford,
Bassett, Highfield and Hampton Park where residents were asking for them. The First
Controlled Zone and both the Suburban and City Centre Off Street Car Park parking orders
were reviewed and updated. We have introduced credit and debit card facilities’ to pay &
display machines and also to all our payment machines in our multi-storey car parks. In a
number of our car parks and on street locations we have extended the time limits after
requests from local businesses, along with appropriate tariffs for the area. In parking, as well
as other areas, I firmly believe the Council does not have a monopoly on good ideas.
We also want to make Southampton a better place to do business in. We are continuing
to refurbish our five City Centre multi-storey car parks, spending some £3.9 million since
2002. All have the Park Mark award with only a very small number of vehicle related
crimes taking place over the last 10 years; in fact no vehicles have been stolen from
these car parks since major improvements took place in 1997 and 1998.

A lot has changed in parking over the last few years and I hope residents and businesses
are feeling the benefits. There is still work to be done, but these achievements should
mean that there are firm foundations to build on.

Councillor Matthew Dean

Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport

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Annual Parking and Enforcement Report 2007/2008 CONTENTS

Contents

1 Introduction 4

2 Overview 6

3 General Information 9

4 Improvements 10

5 Customer Surveys 12

6 Financial and Statistical Information 13

7 Glossary 26

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Annual Parking and Enforcement Report 2007/2008 INTRODUCTION

1 Introduction

1.1 This is Southampton’s first annual parking report - all local authorities are
required to produce a report under the Traffic Management Act 2004. Part
6 of the Act was introduced on 31 March 2008 and while a report under
this Act is not needed until 2009, it is considered best practice to do so and
will set the scene for what will be required to be provided in the future.

1.2 The provision and management of parking is one of the most important
functions undertaken by the City Council. Issues around parking are the
subject of intense public interest from the scale of public provision to
supporting the economic activity, to the desire of a resident to park in the
street near their home. The City Council has a pivotal role in the provision,
management, regulation and distribution of parking. This report sets out
the parking and related activities undertaken by the City Council in 2007-8.

1.3 The City Council has the responsibility for the control, enforcement and
policy for parking in the City and provides:

• On Street Parking

• Off Street Parking – City Council car parks

• Residents Parking

• Removal of Abandoned Vehicles

1.4 Under the Traffic Management Act legislation, decriminalised enforcement

has been changed to civil enforcement to reflect the wider role that local
authorises will now undertake, which will included moving traffic
contraventions. It is anticipated that legislation to enforce bus lane and
traffic signs will be enacted within the next 12 to 18 months. Government
has yet to consult on the regulations that are required.

1.5 The new legislation from 31 March 2008 has changed the name of the
enforcement officers from Parking Attendants to Civil Enforcement Officers
(CEO’s); this is to reflect the wider enforcement role that they will be
required to undertake in the future.

1.6 Changes have also included the ability to issue Penalty Charge Notices
through the post, to the owners of vehicles where the CEO, once the issue
of the notice had commenced, was prevented from serving the notice.

1.7 One of the key changes was the introduction of differential penalty
charges, to reflect the severity of the contravention. Up until 30 March
2008 all contraventions committed in Southampton attracted a £60
penalty, discounted to £30 if paid within 14 days. The new penalty charge
values are £70, discounted to £35 for the higher value contraventions and
£50, discounted to £25 for the lower value contraventions. The values set

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Annual Parking and Enforcement Report 2007/2008 INTRODUCTION

have been imposed on local authorities outside London by Government

and in some cases are now lower than what they were 8 years ago.

1.8 One of the requirements of the TMA 2004 was the need to publish a
parking policy; Southampton has consulted widely on its policy which was
approved by Cabinet earlier this year and published on the council’s City
Web site.
http://www.southampton.gov.uk/Images/PARKING%20POLICY_tcm46-
200770.pdf

1.9 This report will now be published annually to provide information,

performance and enable members of the public to have a transparent
record of parking activities.

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Annual Parking and Enforcement Report 2007/2008 OVERVIEW

2 Overview

2.1 The City Council provides the following services:

2.2 A civil parking enforcement service throughout the city.

2.2.1 This includes the enforcement of parking restrictions both on street and
in council controlled car parks.

2.2.2 Civil Enforcement Officers also issue notices to abandoned vehicles and
report untaxed vehicles.

2.2.3 Assist partners in the eviction of travellers from applicable car parks.

2.3 Representations against the Issue of Penalty Charge Notices.

2.3.1 Answering appeals at both the informal and formal stage from members
of the public.

2.3.2 Presentation of cases to the independent adjudication service, The

Penalty Tribunal.

2.3.3 Initiating recovery action of unpaid Penalty Charge Notices through the
Traffic Enforcement court at Northampton.

2.3.4 Instructing bailiffs to recover debts after obtaining warrants of execution.

2.4 Maintaining off street car parks.

2.4.1 Including five City Centre multi-storeys and one roof top car park.

2.4.2 Fifty nine surface car parks, mainly in the City Centre with a number in
district centres across the City.

2.5 Maintaining parking payment machines.

2.5.1 Two hundred and two on street pay and display ticket machines.

2.5.2 Eighty five pay and display ticket machines in off street car parks.

2.5.3 Four sets of pay-on-foot parking equipment in multi-storey car parks in

the City Centre.

2.5.4 Introducing new parking charges.

2.5.5 Installing and removing parking equipment.

2.6 Maintaining Closed Circuit Television Equipment

2.6.1 This consists of 280 CCTV cameras in car parks and in the public realm.

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Annual Parking and Enforcement Report 2007/2008 OVERVIEW

2.6.2 Monitors, video recorders and other associated control room equipment.

2.6.3 Transmission equipment for sending CCTV images across the City.

2.7 Provision of Parking Permits.

2.7.1 Residents and visitor parking permits in resident’s zones.

2.7.2 Business and temporary business parking permits in resident’s zones.

2.7.3 Suspended bay parking permits in pay and display bays.

2.7.4 Medical and essential visitor parking permits.

2.7.5 Waiver certificates.

2.8 Maintaining parking restrictions throughout the City.

2.8.1 Replacing worn or missing parking signs.

2.8.2 Renewing yellow lines and parking bay markings.

2.9 Managing the abandoned vehicle contract.

2.9.1 Liaising with other internal sections dealing with abandoned vehicles.

2.9.2 Administering the abandoned vehicle contract.

2.9.3 Liaising with the removal contractor.

2.10 Season tickets and stored value cards.

2.10.1 Purchase of season tickets and stored value cards for off street car
parks.

2.11 Disabled persons parking bays.

2.11.1 Administration of the eligibility for a disabled person’s bay.

2.11.2 The installation and removal of disabled persons parking bays

throughout the City.

2.12 The introduction of new parking restrictions and removal of existing ones.

2.12.1 New residents parking zones.

2.12.2 Amendments to existing resident’s zones.

2.12.3 Introduction of new waiting restrictions.

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Annual Parking and Enforcement Report 2007/2008 OVERVIEW

2.12.4 Amendments to existing waiting restrictions.

2.13 Investigating parking related fraud.

2.13.1 The misuse of pay and display tickets.

2.13.2 Disabled person’s badges.

2.13.3 Residents permits and visitor permits.

2.13.4 Supplying false information to obtain permits.

2.13.5 Supplying false information in appeals against the issue of penalty

charge notices.

2.13.6 Supplying false information in statutory declarations connected with

county court warrants for unpaid notices.

2.13.7 Conducting interviews under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act.

2.13.8 Working with Trading Standards and Legal Services to prepare cases
for prosecution.

2.14 Providing information on the Council’s web pages.

2.14.1 Abandoned vehicle information.

2.14.2 Residents parking information.

2.14.3 Parking charges.

2.14.4 Parking policy.

2.14.5 Car park locations.

2.14.6 Information on how to appeal against the issue of a Penalty Charge

Notice.

2.14.7 How to pay Penalty Charges.

2.14.8 General information on Civil Parking Enforcement.

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Annual Parking and Enforcement Report 2007/2008 GENERAL INFORMATION

3 General Information

3.1 Enforcement of the parking regulations is achieved by officers patrolling

dedicated beats, areas of the City are visited according to compliance
requirements. From time to time requests are received from a variety of
sources for immediate enforcement and for a number of different reasons.
(This includes a number of schools that have parking problems during the
school run).

3.2 A call centre and one stop shop are now in place and are operated by the
Council’s external partner as the first point of contact for customers
wishing to obtain permits or with parking related enquiries.

3.3 The issue of parking fraud continues with a dedicated officer working with
the enforcement section, blue badge unit, trading standards and the City
Council’s legal section. Prosecutions take place for the misuse of disabled
persons badges, altering pay and display tickets and supplying false
information. Investigations continue to take place into the misuse of
resident’s permits and visitor permits.

3.4 A number of high profile checks have taken place at disabled person’s
bays in the City Centre, with police support; this has resulted in a number
of Penalty Charge Notices being issued for misuse, seizure of badges,
interviews and cautions issued.

3.5 Training of enforcement, representation and technical staff has continued,

concentrating on the requirements for the introduction of Part 6 of The
Traffic Management Act 2004. A continuing issue is the abuse that Civil
Enforcement Officers receive, while receiving a parking notice is not an
enjoyable experience, threats of violence, verbal abuse and racial
comments are unacceptable. The continuing support of Hampshire police
when dealing with these incidents is most welcome. On at least two
occasions this has resulted in imprisonment for the offenders.

3.6 During the last 18 months both credit and debit card payments have been
available on all pay and display ticket machines across the City. This
innovation was introduced as a result of a number of incentives, including
reducing the amount of cash held within the machines, giving motorists
more payment options and responding to complaints that the ticket
machines do not give change, resulting in customers overpaying. Since
the introduction usage has increased to around 36% of all transactions
completed this way in car parks, while the usage averages around 12% on
street.

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Annual Parking and Enforcement Report 2007/2008 IMPROVEMENTS

4 Improvements Completed in 2007/08 and Scheduled for 2008/09

4.1 Introduction of Replacement Pay on Foot Parking Equipment in multi-

storey car parks. This included introducing payment by credit/debit card,
stored value cards and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR).

4.2 Approval by Council to introduce Immobilisation and Towing away of

vehicles in connection with parking enforcement.

4.3 The refurbishment of lifts at Lime Street roof top car park.

4.4 Completion of the renewal of posts and signs in Newtown/Nicholstown

residents parking zone.

4.5 Completed customer satisfaction survey for Abandoned Vehicles.

4.6 Renewed the bailiff contract.

.
4.7 Commenced the preparation for the introduction of Civil Parking
Enforcement.

4.8 Carried out high profile parking enforcement across 40 roads in the City.

4.9 Reviewed and amended the following traffic regulation orders:

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Annual Parking and Enforcement Report 2007/2008 IMPROVEMENTS

(i) The City of Southampton (First Controlled Zone) Traffic

Regulation Order.
(ii) The City of Southampton (Coxford Area) Residents
Parking Scheme.
(iii) The City of Southampton (Golden Grove and Bevois
Town) Residents Parking Scheme.
(iv) Amendments 6 and 7 to The City of Southampton
(Bassett, Highfield and Hampton Park) Residents Parking
Scheme.
(v) The City of Southampton (Off Street Parking Places)
Consolidation Order.
(vi) The (Northam, Bitterne Manor and Itchen) Residents
Parking Scheme.
(vii) The City of Southampton (Suburban Off Street Parking
Places) Traffic Regulation Order.
(viii) Amendments 4C, 5A, 5B and 6 to The City of
Southampton (Various Roads) (Prohibition and
Restriction of Waiting) Traffic Regulation Order.

4.10 Improvements Scheduled for 2008/09.

4.10.1 To continue with the multi-storey maintenance programme with the

refurbishment of Eastgate Street Multi-Storey Car Park.

4.10.2 Introduction of Civil Parking Enforcement.

4.10.3 Introduction of Towing Away and Immobilisation of Vehicles.

4.10.4 Produce a Report to Cabinet in line with Part 6 of the Traffic

Management Act 2004.

4.10.5 Review of posts and signs in Resident Parking Zone 5 - Bevois Town.

4.10.6 Produce action plan from customer satisfaction survey from on-street
survey conducted in 2008/9.

4.10.7 Review the present parking restrictions in Newtown/Nicholstown and

Woolston residents parking zones.

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 Annual Parking and Enforcement Report 2007/2008 CUSTOMER SURVEYS

5 Customer Surveys

5.1 Residents Parking - Completed 2005/06 - Information and improvement plan

approved and implemented.

For a summary of the survey go to:

http://www.southampton.gov.uk/thecouncil/thecity/research/marketresearchresul
ts/residentsparking.asp#0

5.2 On Street Parking - Scheduled for 2008/09.

5.3 Off Street Parking - Completed 2006/07 - Information and improvement plan
approved and implemented.

For a summary of the survey go to:

http://www.southampton.gov.uk/thecouncil/thecity/research/marketresearchresul
ts/carpark.asp#0
5.4 Abandoned Vehicles - Completed 2007/08 - No further
action required.

For a summary of the survey go to:

http://www.southampton.gov.uk/thecouncil/thecity/researc
h/marketresearchresults/abandonedvehiclessurvey.asp#0

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Annual Parking and Enforcement Report 2007/2008 FINANCIAL & STATISTICS

6 Financial and Statistical Information

6.1 Under section 55 of The Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, as amended
by The Traffic Management Act 2004 all English authorities must keep an
account of all parking income and expenditure in designated (on street)
parking spaces which are in a Civil Enforcement Area and of their income
and expenditure related to their functions as an enforcement authority.

6.2 Regulations and Guidance confirm that in respect of off street parking
places (car parks) the term “income and expenditure as enforcement
authorities” includes that related to Penalty Charge Income. It does not, for
example, cover pay and display income or permit/season ticket income or
the direct income/expenditure to collect that income; however for
completeness this information has been included.

6.3 Likewise the abandoned vehicle account has also been included. A large
improvement in the deficit of this statutory service was achieved by
including the staff cost in the on street account and a large reduction in the
number of vehicles abandoned. This was as a result of the increase in the
scrap metal value of vehicles.

6.4 Of particular interest is that guidance now includes a new requirement that
the financial statements should provide details of the benefits that can be
expected as a result of the proposed use of any parking surplus.

6.5 It is recommended that, for comparative purposes, the published accounts

should show information for the previous year as well as the current year
and comment on any significant changes.

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Annual Parking and Enforcement Report 2007/2008 FINANCIAL & STATISTICS

6.6 On Street Account including Residents Parking 2007/08 and the staffing
cost for abandoned vehicles.

2007/08 2006/07
On Street £ £
Income
Pay and Display Ticket (2,243,012.04) (1,924,496.83)
Machines
Residents Permits (37,497.42) (35,660.50)
Business Permits (12,808.00) (12,107.50)
Suspended Bays (71,908.36) (51,478.39)
Other Income (4,633.65) 1,586.92
Penalty Charge Notices (1,225,278.60) (1,219,076.94)
Recharge Income (899,280.51) (2,701,108.77)
Total Income (4,494,418.58) (5,942,342.01)

Expenditure
Employee Costs 1,736,084.15 1,650,777.55
Council Internal 959,310.49 2,443,369.15
Recharges
Premises Costs 6,459.72 9,712.34
Supplies and Services 449,501.99 359,938.08
Transport Costs 77,452.50 76,471.45
Lines and Signs
Renewals and new 57,958.32 57,473.29
installations, including
residents zones
Disabled persons bays
Installation and removal 19,900.00 19,900.00

Traffic Penalty Tribunal 35,279.50 29,288.20

(Adjudication Service)
Traffic Enforcement 30,000 50,000
Court (Northampton)
Total Expenditure 3,371,946.97 4,696,930.06

Surplus/Deficit (1,122,471.91) (1,245,411.95)

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Annual Parking and Enforcement Report 2007/2008 FINANCIAL & STATISTICS

6.7 Off Street Account

2007/08 2006/07
Off Street £ £
Income
Car Parks (4,645,985.35) (3,926,345.96)
Season Tickets (713,210.81) (774,266.43)
Staff Parking (475,741.19) (448,002.25)
Suspended Bays (57,606.41) (12,712.32)
Other Income (86,348.20) (342,956.06)
Penalty Charge Notices (295,915.38) (248,281.75)
Total Income (6,274,807.34) (5,752,564.77)

Expenditure
Council Internal 1,348,279.03 1,263,164.07
Recharges
Capital Financing 1,497,200.00 1,497,200.00
Car Park Maintenance 149,114.83 278,335.92
Electrical/Rent/ Rates 839,157.30 776,599.14
and Water Charges
Supplies and Services 159,433.40 65,799.30
Total Expenditure 3,993,184.56 3,881,098.43

Surplus/Deficit (2,281,622.78) (1,871,466.34)

6.8sAbandoned Vehicles Account

2007/08 2006/07
£ £
Expenditure 39,264.97 153,396.43
Income (24,775.00) (22,540.85)
Surplus/Deficit 14,489.97 130,855.58

6.9 Use of On Street Surplus in 2007/08

2007/08
Funding for Revenue Services £
Staffing for CCTV Control Room 56,000
Maintenance for Off Street Car Parks 81,000
Public Transport 563,000
Funding for Capital Schemes
Weston Shore Car Park Improvements 5,000
Car Park Lighting Improvements 67,000
Multi-Storey Car Parks Refurbishment Programme 188,000
Total 960,000

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Annual Parking and Enforcement Report 2007/2008 FINANCIAL & STATISTICS

6.10 Top Ten Locations for Contraventions and Penalty Charge Notices
Issued.

PCN’s
2007/8 - Location Issued
WEST PARK ROAD MSCP 1035
East Street 955
THE QUAYS NORTH Car Park 924
Milton Road 905
BEDFORD PLACE Car Park 873
Park Walk 865
COLLEGE STREET Car Park 697
High Street 692
Bedford Place 676
Queensway 657

6.11 Performance Indicators

6.11.1 A number of service indicators have been collected since the

enforcement of parking was decriminalised in Southampton in February
2002. Parking Services has been accredited to quality performance
standard ISO9001:2000 and has in place a number of key performance
indicators which are monitored to seek continual improvement.

Key indicators Improvement

Targets
Actual Actual Actual 2008/09 2009/10
2005/06 2006/07 2007/08
98% of reported 98.7% 98% 95% 98%
KPI 1 abandoned
vehicles
investigated within
24 hours.

65% of reported 65% 84% 66% N/A N/A

KPI 2 abandoned
vehicles removed
within 24 hours.

66% of reported N/A N/A N/A 66%

KPI 2 abandoned
vehicles removed
within 48 hours.

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Annual Parking and Enforcement Report 2007/2008 FINANCIAL & STATISTICS

Improvement Targets
Service Actual Actual Actual 2008/09 2009/10
Indicators 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08

Achieve 100%
patrol by Parking
KPI 3 Attendants of 88.5% 86.2% 94.3% N/A N/A
assigned beats
during 2008/09.

Achieve 100%
patrol by Civil
KPI 3 Enforcement
Officers of N/A N/A N/A 100% 100%
assigned beats
during 2008/09.

Achieve 70% 54,894 55,454 56,372

KPI 4 payment of all Notices Notices Notices
Penalty Charge Issued Issued Issued 70% 70%
Notices issued 64% 67% 70%
during 2008/09.

Effect 90% 1717 2323 1337

repairs to on/off reported reported reported
street ticket faults of faults of faults of
machines within which which which 90% 90%
30 minutes and 94.9% 89.2% 82% within 30 within 30
98.1% of all faults repaired repaired repaired minutes minutes
KPI 5 within 1 hour within 30 within 30 within 30 and and
during 2008/09. minutes minutes minutes 98.1% 98.1%
and and and within 1 within 1
98.9% 96.8% 89.4% hour hour
within 1 within 1 within 1
hour hour hour

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Annual Parking and Enforcement Report 2007/2008 FINANCIAL & STATISTICS

Effect 85% 1564 1736 2183

repairs to Pay on reported reported reported
Foot parking faults of faults of faults of
equipment within which which which 85% 85%
30 minutes and 89.3% 89.5% 94.8% within 30 within 30
97.1% with 1 hour repaired repaired repaired minutes minutes
KPI 6 during 2008/09. within 30 within 30 within 30 and and
minutes minutes minutes 97.1% 97.1%
and and and within 1 within 1
97.8% 97.4% 98.4% hour hour
within 1 within 1 within 1
hour hour hour

Respond to 65%
of informal and
formal challenges 50.2% 84.2% 14%
KPI 7 to Penalty Charge of of of N/A N/A
Notices within 15 7,869 14,298 16,084
working days
during 2008/09.

Respond to all
informal
KPI 7 challenges within
10 days and all
formal challenges N/A N/A N/A 100% 100%
within 40 days to
Penalty Charge
Notices during
2008/09.

85% of telephone
calls to be 39,149 66,783 Changed
answered within to Call Call Call
KPI 8 20 seconds – 69.8% 90.9% Centre in Centre in Centre in
figures are for within 10 within 20 October Operation Operation
external calls only seconds seconds 2007
up to October
2007.

Reduction in
errors by Civil 315
KPI 9 Enforcement notices
Officers when N/A N/A cancelled 3% 2%
issuing Penalty due to
Charge Notices officer
by 3%. error

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Annual Parking and Enforcement Report 2007/2008 FINANCIAL & STATISTICS

Repair 60% of all 417 381 483

Closed Circuit reported reported reported
KPI 10 Cameras faults faults of faults of faults of 60% 60%
within 8 hours, which which which within 8 within 8
75% with 24 57.9% 60.8% 60.1% hours, hours,
hours 95% within repaired repaired repaired 75% 75%
72 hours during within 8 within 8 within 8 within 24 within 24
2008/09. hours, hours, hours, hours and hours and
69.6% 77.2% 65% 95% 95%
within 24 within 24 within 24 within 72 within 72
hours and hours and hours and hours hours
97.1% 96% 89%
within 72 within 72 within 72
hours hours hours

6.11.2 The majority of these indicators show that performance is near to or

above the indicator target. A number require further comment:

• KPI 2 has been extended from 24 to 48 hours to allow the contractor to

meet this requirement and reflects the large drop in abandoned
vehicles.

• KPI 4 has met the 70% recovery target and needs to be maintained
before any review.

• The large drop in KPI 7 was due to an increase in appeals, the team
dealing with appeals being subject to the new partnership
arrangements and the non delivery of an automated telephone
payment system. At the end of the year – 2007/08, the time taken to
reply to appeals had been brought down to an average of three days.
The new times indicated in the new KPI 7 are required by the
introduction of Part 6 of The Traffic Management Act 2004 on 31
March 2008.

• KPI 9 is a new indicator to monitor the performance of Civil

Enforcement Officers when issuing notices.

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Annual Parking and Enforcement Report 2007/2008 FINANCIAL & STATISTICS

6.12 Penalty Charge Notice Information

Overview 2006/7 2007/8

Number of Penalty Charge Notices issued 55,454 56,179
Number of Notice to Owners issued 6,604 16,856
Percentage of payments made at the reduced rate 52.4% 53.8%
Percentage of payments made at the full rate 8.7% 9.7%
Percentage of payments made after a Charge
5.0% 3.7%
Certificate is issued
Percentage of PCNs where informal
30.6% 30%
representations are made
Percentage of PCNs where formal representations
2.9% 16.2%
are made
Number of PCNs taken to County Court 5,886 5,358

6.13 Penalty Charge Notice Appeals and Representations

Back Office
Cancellations/ Representations viewed as a
2006/7 2007/8
total
Percentage of PCNs cancelled at any stage (PCNs
cancelled after any type of representation is 18.5% 15.9%
received etc)
Percentage of PCNs written off (e.g. unable to trace
owner, bailiff unable to collect debt, DVLA have no 11.4% 3.4%
record of owner etc)
Percentage of PCNs that the Council cancelled
because it agreed the appellant wasn’t liable, or
decided it couldn' t discharge the burden of proving
liability. (PCNs cancelled because additional
1.4% 1.1%
evidence was received proving that an exempt
activity was taking place, the driver was given the
benefit of any doubt, a problem with lines or signs
etc)
Percentage of PCNs cancelled as a result of the
Council exercising discretion (mitigating 11.5% 11.2%
circumstances etc)
Percentage of PCNs cancelled because they were
issued in error (I.e. the Parking Attendant, now Civil 0.68% 0.63%
Enforcement Officer made a mistake)
Percentage of PCNs that go to appeal
(representations made after NTO is issued that are
0.3% 0.3%
rejected and the driver/keeper appeals to NPAS
now TPT)

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Annual Parking and Enforcement Report 2007/2008 FINANCIAL & STATISTICS

Percentage of PCNs where an appeal is allowed

(I.e. NPAS now TPT decide in favour of the 0.11% 0.01%
driver/keeper)
Percentage of PCNs where an appeal is dismissed
(I.e. NPAS now TPT decided in favour of the 0.1% 0.1%
Council)

6.14 Enforcement Requests

6.14.1
The chart below records the calls that were made for enforcement action
from a variety of sources in 2007/08. The total number of calls received
was 567.

Who Makes Enforcement Requests

6% 4%
13%

3%
Police
General Public
Councillor
Council Staff
Others

74%

6.14.2

This chart records the alleged contravention that was taking place and
other information.

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Annual Parking and Enforcement Report 2007/2008 FINANCIAL & STATISTICS

42%

2% 1% Vehicle
Contraventions
5% Police Responsibility
2% Road lineage/plates

Permits/permit bays

Vehicle broken down

15% Disabled bays

School parking
1%
30%
2%

6.15 Parking Fraud

6.15.1 Since July 2007 a dedicated officer has been appointed to deal with
parking fraud. This includes the misuse of disabled person’s badges –
commonly known as blue badges – residents parking permits,
fraudulent appeals against the issue of penalty notices and forgery of
parking documents.

6.15.2 Attention has been paid to disabled persons badges first; civil
enforcement officers have the power to inspect blue badges to make
sure that the badge is being correctly used. A number of new initiatives
have been introduced locally, these have included a list of badge
holders who are deceased and the badges have not been returned,
badges that have been lost, lost in the post or reported stolen. These
are now available to officers on an updated monthly basis. Officers can
request a check of a badge when on patrol; however that only applies
to those issued in Southampton. Checks can be made with other
issuing authorities by phone. At the present time there is no national
database to access, so those badges that are issued outside
Southampton cannot be instantly checked.

6.15.3 The misuse of a disabled persons badge falls into a number of areas;

• Copied or altered badges;

• The badge is used without the badge holder being present.

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Annual Parking and Enforcement Report 2007/2008 FINANCIAL & STATISTICS

Evidence needs to be gathered to prove the badge holder is not

present when the vehicle is parked or when the vehicle is about to be
driven away.

6.15.4 Three high profile checks have been undertaken in connection with the
police, these have resulted in a number of people being caught for
misuse, the badge holder not being present when the vehicle was
parked. Penalty Notices were issued, the badge holders written to,
interviews undertaken and cautions given by Southampton City
Council.

6.15.5 A number of copied, altered and deceased badges have been

recovered, while the policy is to review each case that comes to light to
decide what action should be taken, it is more likely that those who
have used a deceased persons badge, have misused a badge over a
period of time or fail to cooperate in investigations will be prosecuted.
At the time of this report three prosecutions are pending for the misuse
of disabled persons badges.

6.15.6 The three prosecutions for the misused of disabled badges were for:

• A carer using the badge of the deceased person that was being
cared for;

• A schoolteacher using an out of date and altered badge issued

to her daughter;

• A son using his fathers badge to park near to work to evade

parking charges over a period of at least six months.

6.15.7 Information on disabled person badges misuse.

Number of Complaints of Blue Badge Misuse 308

Number of Investigations Undertaken 70
Number of Cautions Issued 15
Number of Warning Letters Sent 31
Number of Cases Resulting in Prosecution 3

6.16 Enforcement Patrols Undertaken

6.16.1 Enforcement is undertaken by assigned beats across the City, these

total 34. They are divided into two car parks, nine core, five seasonal,
thirteen daily and five stadium event beats. The performance
measurement consists of a percentage completed, aiming for 100% for
each beat.

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Annual Parking and Enforcement Report 2007/2008

6.16.2 Each beat consists of either a number of roads, car parks or a

combination of both. The road or car park is allocated either a number
of visits per day or number of visits per week. This takes into account
the enforcement requirements of each location over a 12 month period.

6.12.3 It can be seen that in some cases the beat achieved more than 100%
performance for the whole of 2007/08 while others less.

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Annual Parking and Enforcement Report 2007/2008

Beat
Month %
Number CORE BEATS
1 108.29 Beat Number year %
2 95.12 3 98.74
3 98.74 4 101.27
4 101.27 5 88.79
5 88.79 6 92.77
6 92.77 7 110.05
7 110.05 8 103.94
8 103.94 9 93.75
9 93.75 10 103.41
10 103.41 11 98.28
11 98.28 99.00
12 106.97
13 106.48 SEASONAL BEATS
14 96.70 Beat Number year %
15 88.39 12 106.97
16 94.90 13 106.48
17 95.83 14 96.70
18 93.88 15 88.39
19 122.96 16 94.90
20 83.28 98.69
21 84.21
22 89.86
23 79.57
24 82.53 DAILY BEATS
25 80.98 Beat Number year %
26 83.24 17 95.83
27 81.07 18 93.88
28 73.62 19 122.96
29 94.79 20 83.28
Total 94.27 This is without Stadium Events 21 84.21
22 89.86
23 79.57
24 82.53
25 80.98
26 83.24
Stadium Events 27 81.07
28 73.62
30 77.95 29 94.79
31 69.08 88.14
32 113.27 Stadium Events year %
33 115.22 30 77.95
34 98.10 31 69.08
94.72 32 113.27
33 115.22
34 98.10
94.72
Car Parks year %
1 108.29
2 95.12
101.70

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Annual Parking and Enforcement Report 2007/2008

Glossary
This glossary provides:

The full title to common acronyms used through the document.

Definitions of technical terms used.

Abandon Vehicle A vehicle that appears to be abandoned under the

Refuse Disposal (Amenity) Act 1978 as amended.

Annual Report This is the abbreviated name for this document, the
Annual Parking and Enforcement Report.

ANPR Automatic Number Plate Recognition.

CCTV ‘Closed Circuit Television’: relates to the camera and

associated technology that may be used for
surveillance and enforcement purposes.

CC Charge Certificate.

CEO Civil Enforcement Officer.

Civil Enforcement Change from decriminalised to civil under Part 6 of

the Traffic Management Act 2004.

CPZ Controlled Parking Zone. Some public highways in

Southampton are covered by CPZs in which parking
is regulated within certain controlled hours. The
hours of control vary between CPZs, the hours and
days of control in CPZs have been developed to
meet local community needs following detailed
consultation.

Contravention This refers to a breach of parking regulations. This

was formerly referred to as an ‘offence’ when
regulations were enforced by the Police.

Decriminalisation This was the process whereby local authorities took

up enforcement powers from the Police.

Deferential Penalties From the 31 March 2008, all parking contraventions

fell into two bands, higher band for the more serious
contraventions, such as parking on yellow lines or a
disabled person’s bay and a lower band. These were

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Annual Parking and Enforcement Report 2007/2008

for not paying for parking or overstaying the time

limits. The higher band charge is £70, the lower £50.

Enforcement In this document ‘enforcement’ activity by the Council

covers that of parking controls and decriminalised
parking contraventions.

ISO9001:2000 Southampton City Council – Parking Services –

activities connected with parking control and
enforcement, maintenance of CCTV and parking
control equipment.

KPI Key Performance Indicator.

MSCP Multi-Storey Car Park.

NTO Notice to Owner.

NPAS National Parking Adjudication Service.

Park Mark Safer Parking Award granted to car park operators

who meet the criteria set down to be granted a Park
Mark award for their car parks – administered by the
British Parking Association in conjunction with the
Home Office and the association of Chief Police
Officers.

PA Parking Attendant.

PCN Penalty Charge Notice.

Recovery rate The percentage of PCNs issued that have been

paid. Non payment of PCNs may arise due to those
receiving the PCN or as a consequence of the
Council not being able to obtain the keeper details
from the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing
Agency).

TEC Traffic Enforcement Court – the County Court

at Northampton that registers debts from
unpaid Penalty Charge Notices.

TMA Traffic Management Act 2004 Part 6.

TPT Traffic Penalty Tribunal.

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Annual Parking and Enforcement Report 2007/2008

TRO Traffic Regulation Order - TRO is used as a generic

term used in this report to cover any traffic regulation
orders that are used to designate parking controls.

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