Agenda item

BCP Council conducted a Department for Transport (DfT)authorised trial in August 2025 to test whether increasing Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) levels and associated charges to London?equivalent rates would improve compliance and reduce illegal parking in the coastal area from Sandbanks to Hengistbury Head. The trial showed a reversal of the expected rise in contraventions, with overall PCNs decreasing against forecast models, alongside reductions in serious on?street breaches and improvements in bus punctuality. No negative impact on visitor numbers was identified, and parking capacity remained consistently available, suggesting most illegal parking had been by choice rather than necessity. Some behavioural displacement occurred into lower?level car park contraventions, and peak?pressure days still presented challenges. Overall, the trial demonstrated that higher PCN levels can effectively improve compliance, with BCP Council recommending either a national review of PCN rates outside London or a wider, longer?term follow?up trial.

The Portfolio Holder for Cabinet Member for Destination, Leisure and Commercial Operations presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'C' to these Minutes in the Minute Book. The Board was advised that the Council conducted a Department for Transport (DfT)authorised trial in August 2025 to test whether increasing Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) levels and associated charges to London?equivalent rates would improve compliance and reduce illegal parking in the coastal area from Sandbanks to Hengistbury Head. The trial showed a reversal of the expected rise in contraventions, with overall PCNs decreasing against forecast models, alongside reductions in serious on?street breaches and improvements in bus punctuality. No negative impact on visitor numbers was identified, and parking capacity remained consistently available, suggesting most illegal parking had been by choice rather than necessity. Some behavioural displacement occurred into lower?level car park contraventions, and peak?pressure days still presented challenges. Overall, the trial demonstrated that higher PCN levels can effectively improve compliance, with BCP Council recommending either a national review of PCN rates outside London or a wider, longer?term follow?up trial. A number of points were discussed by the Board including:

• Potential Future Scope: It was asked that any extension cover the whole BCP area and run longer (to capture school?term impacts). The Cabinet Member indicated that any further trial sought from the DfT should be BCP?wide and for an extended period.
• DfT decision?making: Members asked whether a national uplift or a further local trial would be pursued and when. The Board was informed that the evidence?led officer report with two feasible recommendations, a national rates uplift or a further extended local trial, had been submitted to the DfT. The Cabinet report was provided for the findings to be noted and to publicly support the approach; follow?up representations to the DfT were planned once the DfT had digested the report.
• Strength of recommendation: Members urged the strongest case be made that the tested uplift should form the baseline for either option presented. Officers acknowledged that London rates may change from April and that alignment to London is the likely ceiling outside London.
• Measurement: Questions were raised about whether “success” reflected tickets issued or contraventions occurring. Officers stated that the relevant metric was contraventions, with officer productivity per hour steady year?on?year; higher counts on bank?holiday days reflected increased demand pressures, whereas the overall period evidenced reduction.
• CEO Capacity: Approximately 55 FTE Civil Enforcement Officers were in post against a structure of roughly 60–65.
• Resident/visitor information: The approach to informing visitors included on?site posters, entry?point notices, radio and press was outlined. The absence of unusual challenge rates suggested effective communication.
• Interaction with the Parking Strategy: Members asked how the trial feeds into the emerging Parking Strategy. It was stated that evidence of improved compliance at higher penalty levels informs assumptions about effective enforcement and the role of restrictions. Further discussion on this was anticipated when the draft strategy is considered by the Board.

The Board noted the report and welcomed the submission to DfT seeking either national change or approval for an extended BCP?wide trial ahead of summer 2026.