The Board is invited to discuss this issue following information gathering work conducted by the Board rapporteurs and input from interested parties before considering potential recommendations the Board wishes to make.
Minutes:
The Chair introduced this item and outlined the format for discussion. The Chair initially invited the O&S Board Member rapporteurs to address the Board and outline their findings. They reported on a number of issues including:
· Driver behaviour around schools had deteriorated over time. Increased vehicle numbers and parental time pressures were considered contributing factors.
· Hazardous environments have been created due to dangerous or inconsiderate parking including blocking access, parking on zigzags, pavement parking and stopping in unsuitable locations.Education was considered essential as many drivers appeared not to understand parking restrictions.
· The imminent pavement?parking ban was noted.
· School Streets schemes had proven highly effective where implemented.
· Issues were also compounded by differing enforcement powers between civil enforcement and police, making responsibilities unclear to parents, schools and councillors.
Following the update from the rapporteurs a Head Teacher provided detailed insight into persistent and long?standing parking issues that have worsened since the pandemic. It was reported that the school’s two entrances intensified the challenge. Problems included illegal parking, blocked access for residents and emergency vehicles, confrontations between adults, damage to verges and idling engines. The Head Teacher emphasised strained relationships with residents and the significant burden imposed on school staff. The Head Teacher advised that additional road markings, particularly zigzags at the second entrance, would be beneficial. Enforcement presence was infrequent and did not effectively deter parents. Volunteering for School Streets had been unsuccessful due to low engagement. The Board then heard from a representative from the local bus operator who outlined the impact of inconsiderate parking on bus reliability, journey times and safe access to bus stops. It was reported that poor parking outside school zones often displaced problems onto bus routes. Reduced pupil bus use since the pandemic was noted. Bus travel was recognised as part of the long?term solution, dependent on funding and appropriate routing. The Chair thanked those attending for sharing their experiences with the Board.
Cabinet Portfolio Holders highlighted constraints
including limited enforcement staffing and increasing aggression
experienced by officers. Budget pressures limited the expansion of
the School Streets programme, although it remained a priority.
Officers reiterated the importance of the three E’s:
Education, Engineering, Enforcement, these were generally
prioritised in this order. Officers advised that they could provide
geographical and numerical data on penalty notices on request. The
Board raised a number of issues in the ensuing discussion
including:
· Unsafe parking behaviour – Concern was raised about unsafe and inconsiderate parking around schools, with it being reported that behaviour had worsened since the COVID?19 pandemic, increasing risks to pupils, disrupting residents and leading to more frequent conflict and aggression.
· Parking enforcement capacity – The Board queried enforcement coverage at school peak times, and it was explained that limited staffing capacity meant consistent attendance at all schools was not possible, although rotas were being reviewed to improve alignment with drop?off and pick?up periods.
· Deterrent effect of enforcement – Concern was expressed that current enforcement lacked deterrent impact, and it was explained that penalty charge notices could not be issued where vehicles were moved on request and that fine levels were nationally set, with proposals to lobby Government for higher penalties.
· Roles and responsibilities – Clarification was sought on responsibilities, and it was confirmed that enforcement powers rested with the Council and police, with a need identified for clearer guidance to educational settings and Councillors on roles and limitations.
· Road markings outside schools – The importance of road markings in improving safety and enabling enforcement was emphasised, while it was explained that their use was subject to legal and design constraints and required assessment, consultation and funding.
· Limits of road markings alone – It was acknowledged that road markings were necessary but insufficient on their own to change behaviour and needed to be supported by education and enforcement.
· Camera enforcement – The use of camera enforcement was discussed, with it being clarified that cameras could only be used for specific contraventions such as school zigzags, and that wider use was constrained by cost and resource requirements.
· Reliance on schools and volunteers – It was noted that schemes such as School Streets were effective but limited by funding and volunteer availability, and that alternative enforcement methods could help reduce reliance on school staff.
· Schools influencing behaviour – It was reported that schools regularly communicated with parents to promote safer travel, but behaviour change remained difficult due to work patterns, time pressures and travel distances.
· Active travel measures – The Board noted that active travel initiatives were in place, but that these had had limited impact on reducing car use at peak school times.
· Public transport options – The potential role of buses was discussed, with it reported that pupil bus use had declined post?pandemic, although buses remained part of the wider solution where practical.
· School expansion and planning – It was agreed that parking and transport impacts should be considered earlier during school expansion or development, with earlier engagement from relevant teams seen as beneficial.
RESOLVED: The Overview and Scrutiny Board recommend to Cabinet:
1. That the parking enforcement team be asked to circulate information to all educational settings and councillors with general guidance around the limitations and responsibilities of parking enforcement officers and the police including suitable contact details.
2. That a Communications campaign be organised through the ‘safer routes to schools’ team regarding an emphasis on enforcement going forwards and that consideration be given to using specific information related to educational settings, e.g. levels of fines withing a specific area in order to encourage a decrease in the instances of parking infringements to reduce the overall number of fines.
3. That the relevant Portfolio Holder write to the DfT emphasising the need to increase fines to help with dangerous parking outside schools.
4. That the ‘safer routes to schools’ team be asked to review if any free resources are available for educational settings, to share with parents to help create a shift in parent driving behaviour including exploring whether Op Relentless Community Funding from Dorset Police could be used for this.
5. That it notes the Board’s support for the good work already underway from the Parking Team to look at funding options for camera parking enforcementon school zigzags and the Board’s support for the Parking Team’s work to increase availability of enforcement officers at key times for school parking issues.
6. That it supports the current review by the Transport Team of road markings at educational settings to ensure that the most appropriate markings are in place.
7. That it agrees that when planning applications are submitted for schools the ‘safer routes to schools’ team be informed.
Voting: Nem. Con.
- The meeting adjourned at 8:07pm and resumed at 8:21pm -