Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Highway Management

Forward Plan Ref: 2021/217

Contact: Keith Stenning, Head of Service – Network Management Tel: 07584 581214

Report by Corporate Director Environment & Place (CA19).

Civil Enforcement powers to manage highway parking and bus lanes is now enforced across the whole of Oxfordshire. The County Council is directly managing this service with the exception of West Oxfordshire where a historic agency agreement is in place.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to approve notice being given to West Oxfordshire District Council to terminate the s101 Agency Agreement in respect of the management of highway parking enforcement within the district of West Oxfordshire.

Recommendations agreed

Cabinet considered a proposal to terminate the s101 Agency Agreement in respect of the management of highway parking enforcement within the district of West Oxfordshire.

The Chair had agreed to hear a number of speakers before discussing the proposal:

Councillor Andrew Coles, Witney South & Central, was unable to attend but had sent some comments that Councillor Duncan Enright read out.  Staff of West Oxfordshire District Council had not been able to provide the necessary cover particularly at weekends and evenings.  As a bus driver in the area Councillor Coles was very aware of the problems illegal parking caused.  He noted that there was general agreement that there should be no charge for on-street or off-street parking in Witney unless there was widespread support for it from businesses and the general community.

Councillor Andy Graham, Woodstock, welcomed the termination of the agreement which would end confusion in the district over who was responsible for on-street parking.  It will mean that any proposal for permits or charges will be consulted upon in its own right.  It will ensure that West Oxfordshire District Council can retain free parking in its car parks.

The report noted that there was a plan for Woodstock about to be consulted upon.  The town had suffered from a lack of enforcement and the previous administration had ignored the problem.  He noted that the proposal was cost-neutral and he thanked officers and Councillor Bearder for their work in partnership with the local community.

Councillor Tim Bearder, Cabinet Member for Highway Management, introduced the report.  He stated that the proposal would bring West Oxfordshire into line with the rest of the county so that there was greater clarity and consistency.  There would also be improved economies of scale and greater efficiency.

Councillor Bearder confirmed that off-street parking would still be under the control of the district council and that on-street measures would only be considered where there was a community demand for them.

Councillor Enright noted that there was relatively little on-street parking in towns like Witney but a lot of parking infringement.  He emphasised that there was no blame associated with WODC enforcement officers – the problem was with the management of enforcement.

The Chair welcomed the proposals and put the recommendations which were agreed.

RESOLVED to approve notice being given to West Oxfordshire District Council to terminate the s101 Agency Agreement in respect of the management of highway parking enforcement within the district of West Oxfordshire.