Parking no 'cash cow', insists Shropshire Council leader
Shropshire Council's leader has hit back at claims made about the authority's parking enforcement policy.
Telford & Wrekin Council plans to transfer parking enforcement services from West Mercia Police to an in-house model in the coming months.
The scheme aims to relieve pressure on police officers as well as offer a more comprehensive parking enforcement plan.
The council has been given £200,000 by the region’s Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion to cover the initial start-up costs.
At a cabinet meeting held by Telford & Wrekin Council, councillor and Labour Leader Shaun Davies suggested that Shropshire Council had given its parking enforcement responsibilities to private contractors, who had targets to meet.
His comments suggested that that Shropshire Council used parking enforcement as a money-making scheme, rather than taking an education-first approach.
But Peter Nutting, leader of Shropshire Council, hit back, saying the authority is in no way considered a “cash cow”.
Councilor Nutting said: "I’m keen to correct comments made by Shaun Davies about how parking enforcement is undertaken in Shropshire, which suggests a lack of understanding on his part.
“To help clarify the position, Shropshire Council does not use the services of a private contractor to enforce the parking restrictions in Shropshire.
“We operate the parking enforcement service wholly in-house, with salaried civil enforcement officers who are not employed on any form of commission, target or bonus-related scheme.
“These hardworking individuals seek to promote responsible parking behaviours by motorists to help reduce congestion and pollution whilst promoting the safety of the highway, helping businesses to receive deliveries and providing equal opportunities for motorists to park their vehicles.
“This is an extremely difficult service the council provides and is in no way considered or seen by Shropshire Council as a 'cash cow', as year after year, the income received from penalty charge notices does not cover the full costs of providing the service.
“However, it is a service that must be undertaken to help promote the vibrancy of our communities.”
