25 signatures reached
To: Tendering Distinct Council
Safety car for Tendring
I understand that the introduction of the safety car was initially discussed around October 2012 at a NEEPP meeting and concerns were raised by a number of parties, including TDC, about its use and deployment and in particular around potential privacy issues. I understand that several discussions occurred prior to this within the Cabinet and the views of Cabinet communicated back to the NEPP via the Portfolio Holder. As you may also be aware the deployment of the car was massively delayed as various technical issues with the car and its mapping GPS system meant that it was not deployed anywhere within the NEPP area.
In late 2015 it appears that the technical issues were overcome and the Safety car was introduced within the areas which had been broadly supportive of its introduction.
It has not been deployed within the Tendring District Council area given the concerns previously raised and communicated via the Portfolio Holder. From the information which I have been able to gather it appears that the decision not to have the safety car operating within the Tendring District Council area was probably made prior to the implementation of the new rules governing the recording of such decisions and so it is unlikely that the determine is still valid decision. This must be up for renewal.
In late 2015 it appears that the technical issues were overcome and the Safety car was introduced within the areas which had been broadly supportive of its introduction.
It has not been deployed within the Tendring District Council area given the concerns previously raised and communicated via the Portfolio Holder. From the information which I have been able to gather it appears that the decision not to have the safety car operating within the Tendring District Council area was probably made prior to the implementation of the new rules governing the recording of such decisions and so it is unlikely that the determine is still valid decision. This must be up for renewal.
Why is this important?
We are working to help make streets safer for all by deploying new 'Park Safe' camera cars.
With our next vehicle being deployed this autumn, the introduction of the camera car follows numerous requests for increased enforcement from residents, parents, schools and local councils.
The Park Safe vehicle will be deployed in all NEPP member districts except Tendring, following a request from the District Council and will be clearly branded, making it highly visible to motorists.
The Park Safe car branding
The vehicle will focus on tackling dangerous, careless, inconsiderate and negligent parking on school 'no stopping' zig-zag restrictions. Several schools will be patrolled every day, recognising the need for parking enforcement particularly at school start and finish times. Its use also supports existing Police and Essex County Council road safety campaigns.
Bus stops throughout North Essex will also be enforced by the vehicle.
Introducing the Park Safe patrol will support the work of our Civil Enforcement Officers (CEOs) who patrol on foot. CEOs will be able to give greater focus to car parks, parking permits and 'no waiting' restrictions where they are most effectively deployed.
Maintaining the high quality of Penalty Charge Notices (PCN) it currently issues, the NEPP will review all photos taken by Park Safe's on-board CCTV camera to determine if a PCN should subsequently be issued to a motorist
Where will the Park Safe car be enforcing?
Colchester Borough including:
•Colchester
•Dedham
•Mersea
•Tiptree
•Wivenhoe
Epping Forest District including:
•Buckhurst Hill
•Chigwell
•Epping
•Loughton
•Ongar
•Roydon
•Waltham Abbey
Harlow District including:
•Old Harlow
•Harlow
Braintree District including:
•Braintree
•Feering
•Halstead
•Kelvedon
•Witham
Uttlesford District including:
•Great Dunmow
•Saffron Walden
•Stansted Mountfitchet
•Takeley
•Thaxted
Whilst the cars all look the same, and are also used as vehicles for the CEOs to get around their patch, you won't see one with an operating enforcement camera in the Tendring District, as your Council policy has always been against the idea of camera enforcement.
You should be aware that the main reason the Park Safe car was introduced in all the other NEPP authority areas, was to discourage parking on school zigzags, installed, as you say, to protect the children. The problem we had before introduction was that it normally takes two CEOs to patrol a school no-parking zone, due to the abuse often received when they try to dissuade anti-social parents from dropping off their children on the zigzags. Obviously this is a resource intensive use of CEOs, even after the introduction of individual body-worn-cameras to deter aggression.
With our next vehicle being deployed this autumn, the introduction of the camera car follows numerous requests for increased enforcement from residents, parents, schools and local councils.
The Park Safe vehicle will be deployed in all NEPP member districts except Tendring, following a request from the District Council and will be clearly branded, making it highly visible to motorists.
The Park Safe car branding
The vehicle will focus on tackling dangerous, careless, inconsiderate and negligent parking on school 'no stopping' zig-zag restrictions. Several schools will be patrolled every day, recognising the need for parking enforcement particularly at school start and finish times. Its use also supports existing Police and Essex County Council road safety campaigns.
Bus stops throughout North Essex will also be enforced by the vehicle.
Introducing the Park Safe patrol will support the work of our Civil Enforcement Officers (CEOs) who patrol on foot. CEOs will be able to give greater focus to car parks, parking permits and 'no waiting' restrictions where they are most effectively deployed.
Maintaining the high quality of Penalty Charge Notices (PCN) it currently issues, the NEPP will review all photos taken by Park Safe's on-board CCTV camera to determine if a PCN should subsequently be issued to a motorist
Where will the Park Safe car be enforcing?
Colchester Borough including:
•Colchester
•Dedham
•Mersea
•Tiptree
•Wivenhoe
Epping Forest District including:
•Buckhurst Hill
•Chigwell
•Epping
•Loughton
•Ongar
•Roydon
•Waltham Abbey
Harlow District including:
•Old Harlow
•Harlow
Braintree District including:
•Braintree
•Feering
•Halstead
•Kelvedon
•Witham
Uttlesford District including:
•Great Dunmow
•Saffron Walden
•Stansted Mountfitchet
•Takeley
•Thaxted
Whilst the cars all look the same, and are also used as vehicles for the CEOs to get around their patch, you won't see one with an operating enforcement camera in the Tendring District, as your Council policy has always been against the idea of camera enforcement.
You should be aware that the main reason the Park Safe car was introduced in all the other NEPP authority areas, was to discourage parking on school zigzags, installed, as you say, to protect the children. The problem we had before introduction was that it normally takes two CEOs to patrol a school no-parking zone, due to the abuse often received when they try to dissuade anti-social parents from dropping off their children on the zigzags. Obviously this is a resource intensive use of CEOs, even after the introduction of individual body-worn-cameras to deter aggression.
How it will be delivered
By email to TDC
