Agenda item

Daniel Fordham delivered a presentation, introduced the report and answered the members’ questions with Craig O’Connor.

• A member asked for an update on how the additional funds allocated for enforcement functions two years ago have been utilised and whether there has been a noticeable step change in enforcement across MCC's car park estate. He requested information on the number of enforcement actions successfully taken and successful prosecutions across Monmouthshire's car park estate.

The officer mentioned that he would need to check and look back at the additional allocation to understand its impact. He noted that there have been challenges in the enforcement team, but they have recently appointed a new civil enforcement manager and are about to recruit three new Civil Enforcement Officer posts, which will significantly increase their capacity. The Chief Officer added that they are ensuring the team is fully functioning and looking to recruit additional resources. He assured that this is a key objective, and they are moving in the right direction. Officers would provide the figures for enforcement actions and prosecutions in writing. – ACTION

• A member highlighted the lack of a one-hour parking option in Monmouthshire's car parks and compared it to other authorities that offer one-hour parking. She mentioned the inconvenience of having to pay for two hours when only needing a short period, and the effect on short visits to town centres. She noted the low occupancy of the Drill Hall car park in Chepstow and mentioned that poor street lighting from St. Mary's Church area to the Drill Hall discourages people from parking there. The member also pointed out the competition from Cribbs Causeway, where parking is free, and the impact on trade in Chepstow. She mentioned that some areas in Monmouthshire have free parking, while others like Chepstow, Monmouth, and Abergavenny charge for parking. She expressed concerns about the allocation of EV and disabled parking spaces, noting that often these spaces are underutilised, which can be frustrating for other drivers.

The officer acknowledged the points raised about the one-hour parking option and mentioned that it could be considered as part of the review of parking charges. He noted the balance needed between encouraging short visits and supporting town centre businesses. Regarding the Drill Hall car park, he mentioned that they are working with the Chepstow Placemaking group to improve connections and lighting between the town centre and peripheral areas, including the Drill Hall. The officer agreed that car parks should not be seen in isolation and should fit into the broader town centre ecosystem. On the allocation of EV and disabled parking spaces, he stated that they would need to assess the effect and current utilisation before implementing the recommendations.

• A member enquired about the inclusion of the new car park over the back of the railway lines at Severn Tunnel Junction in the survey and asked for an estimate of the revenue loss due to the lack of a footbridge connecting the car park to the station.

The officer responded that he would need to check whether the survey included the mentioned car park and would come back with information on the associated costs and revenue loss. – ACTION

• A member asked if residents could report incidents such as contractors parking in blue badge spaces at Shire Hall with timestamped photos for enforcement. He expressed satisfaction with the balance of free and paid parking in Monmouth but noted the importance of ensuring turnover of spaces. The member enquired about the status of EV chargers in the Cattle Market car park and whether more could be introduced in Monmouth.

The officer explained that there are strict legal requirements for issuing penalty charges, making it difficult to enforce based on resident-submitted photos. However, enforcement can be targeted in areas with reported issues. He acknowledged the importance of the balance between free and paid parking and the need to revisit this as part of the review. Regarding EV chargers, the officer mentioned that he would check the status of the Cattle Market car park chargers and noted the ongoing programme for installing new chargers.– ACTION

• A member expressed concern about the cost and effectiveness of the report, noting the need for additional data collection and questioning why this wasn't included initially. He criticised the assumption that most car park users in Usk are residents, highlighting the town's role as a visitor destination. The member pointed out the skewed data due to weekend surveys and the lack of consultation with Usk Town Council and business groups. He emphasised the need for specific local considerations, such as the impact on residents and businesses, and the potential for increased street parking if charges are introduced. He also mentioned the enforcement issues in Usk and the need for a comprehensive review.

The officer acknowledged the need for additional data and explained that the current report helps identify data gaps. He assured that the cost of additional data collection would have been incurred regardless. He confirmed that the Usk Town Council survey was considered and that further consultation with local stakeholders would be part of the next steps. The Chief Officer emphasised the importance of having conversations with local communities to ensure the parking strategy supports town centre vibrancy and meets local needs. He reassured members that the status quo remains until further consultation and data collection are completed.

• A member asked if the traffic enforcement officers are responsible solely for issuing notices in car parks or if they also handle enforcement on double yellow lines and other areas. She enquired about the revenue generation from EV charging spaces in MCC car parks and the arrangement for installing these chargers.

The officer clarified that the civil enforcement officers are responsible for both car park enforcement and on-street enforcement, including double yellow lines. Regarding EV charging spaces, the officer explained that recent installations were done by Connected Curve under the Cardiff Capital Region program. He noted that while there is potential for revenue generation, current usage levels mean that income is currently low.

• A member expressed disappointment with the lack of action in the review's action plan and questioned the scope of the review. She raised concerns about enforcement pressures, especially with the upcoming responsibility for pavement parking, and asked if additional funding would accompany these added responsibilities. The member noted the absence of motorbike spaces and overnight spaces for motorhomes in the recommendations, suggesting these could be trialled in quieter car parks. She highlighted the issue of increasing vehicle sizes and the effect on visitor experience in tightly packed car parks. The member enquired about the risk of organised gangs exploiting car park machines and the visibility of machine buttons, suggesting improvements to reduce queues. She asked if the pay-by-phone app allows users to remotely add time to their parking. The member mentioned the lack of EV charging provision in Wyesham and suggested working with larger businesses to offer this service. She questioned if there are plans to review smaller out-of-town free car parks, which have seen increased pressures.

The officer confirmed that the transfer of responsibility for pavement parking would not come with additional funding, and the review of enforcement capacity would address this. He acknowledged the need to balance short-stay and long-stay parking to support local economies and mentioned that the review included all MCC car parks, not just town centres. He confirmed that users can add time to their parking via the pay-by-phone app, as long as it doesn't exceed the maximum stay. The officer noted that the review did not include non-MCC car parks but agreed to discuss management with highways colleagues. He acknowledged the need to address the visibility of machine buttons and the potential for organised gangs exploiting car park machines.

• A member expressed concern about the lack of data and analysis in the report, questioning if the work was scoped properly and if funding limitations affected the data collection. She pointed out an error in the report regarding the number of parking spaces in Woodstock Way, Caldicot. She raised concerns about the potential phasing out of coin payments, emphasizing the need to consider vulnerable and older residents who may not use digital payment methods.

The officer acknowledged the error regarding the number of parking spaces in Woodstock Way and confirmed it would be corrected. He assured that there are no current proposals to phase out coin payments, and the review identified the availability of multiple payment options (cash, card, and pay-by-phone) as a strength of the service.

• The Chair expressed concerns about the potential implementation of number plate recognition (ANPR) technology, citing personal experiences and the challenges it could pose for residents. She suggested adding simple shades over parking machines to improve visibility and reduce queues. The Chair emphasised the need for more free parking options, either through shorter free parking periods or additional free parking spaces, to encourage people to visit town centres. She questioned the relevance of cycle parking in car parks, noting that cyclists typically prefer more convenient locations closer to their destinations.

The officer acknowledged the potential risks and benefits of ANPR technology, stating that a thorough assessment of risks and opportunities would be necessary before implementation. He agreed to consider the suggestion of adding shades over parking machines to improve visibility. The officer noted that there are no current plans to remove cash payment options and highlighted the importance of maintaining multiple payment methods. He recognised the importance of balancing free and paid parking to support town centre economies and mentioned that the review would consider the relationship between parking charges and footfall. The officer acknowledged that cycle parking in car parks might not be widely used but could support sustainability objectives.

Chair’s Summary: