Issue - meetings

(a)      To receive and note the minutes

(b)      To consider any recommendations contained within the minutes

The recommendations contained within the minutes from the Overview and Scrutiny Board meeting held on 20^th November 2023 were considered by the Cabinet at its meeting held on 22^nd November 2023. There were no further recommendations contained within the minutes.

The minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Board meeting held on 20^th November 2023 were submitted.

During consideration of this item, the Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Board, Councillor P. McDonald, also presented recommendations arising from the meeting of the Board held on 16^th January 2024.  The following points were considered whilst these recommendations were being discussed:

Parking Enforcement

Cabinet was advised that the Overview and Scrutiny Board had received a report on the subject of parking enforcement which had updated Members on the current Service Level Agreement (SLA) and potential future arrangements.  Concerns had been raised during this meeting about the extent to which there would be sufficient service cover when Civil Enforcement Officers (CEOs) were on leave or off work due to sickness.  The SLA contained a number of references to the term “reasonable” and Cabinet was informed that this had also created concerns amongst Members.  In addition, the terms of the SLA stated that only 10 per cent of the service was required to cover parts of the District outside the town of Bromsgrove.  Members of the Overview and Scrutiny Board had expressed their frustrations with this stipulation, as they had felt that there was greater need for parking enforcement activities in wards located outside the town of Bromsgrove.

Based on the points raised by Members during the meeting, the Overview and Scrutiny Board had proposed that Cabinet should consider going out to tender or delivering the parking enforcement service in house.

Cabinet discussed this proposal from the Overview and Scrutiny Board and, in doing so, noted that a report in respect of the parking enforcement SLA was scheduled for the consideration of Cabinet at a meeting due to take place on 14^th February 2024.  Further information regarding the proposals in respect of parking services in the District would be provided for Members’ consideration at this stage.

Reference was made to the existing arrangements that the Council had in place and Members noted that the Council would be obliged to give Wychavon District Council notice should the Council opt to withdraw from existing arrangements.  Officers clarified that there would be a notice period that would need to apply should this be required by Members.

Consideration was given to the options that had been suggested by the Overview and Scrutiny Board.  Members commented that it would be useful for the Cabinet and Officers to explore both options as part of the authority’s review of parking arrangements.  For this reason, Members suggested that the word “and” should be added to the wording of the proposal to ensure that the viability of both options would be investigated further.

Questions were raised about the extent to which the Council’s discussions in respect of future parking enforcement arrangements were likely to impact on the existing service.  The Cabinet was advised that the current service would continue to be provided in line with the Council’s SLA with Wychavon District Council.  It was also confirmed that, should the Council opt  ...  view the full minutes text for item 58