Agenda and minutes

Councillor Phil Hourahine – Board Member of Newport Transport

Councillor Mark Spencer – Board Member of Newport Transport

Councillor Charles Ferris – Board Member of Newport Transport

The minutes of the meeting were approved as a true and accurate record subject to the following amendments:

On Page 6 – ‘SomeMembers were disappointed that a representative from the Police could not be present to answer specific questions.’

‘Some Members were disappointed that alternative options, such as paying the police to employ more staff to undertake the parking enforcement in Newport, had not been explored within the report.’

The Chair introduced Chief Inspector Mike Richards and Inspector Rob Jenkins to the Committee. The Chief Inspector advised that CPI Mark Button would be meeting Welsh Government Officers next week to discuss Civil Parking Enforcement in Gwent, and its aim to make the transition, if adopted by the Local Authorities, as seamless as possible.

The Chair gave a brief discussion of the history of the traffic wardens across Gwent and Newport.

The Chief Inspector advised the Committee that Newport is one of three forces in Wales that still did not enforce parking. The Police Community Support Officers (PCSO) are used primarily to enforce parking and advised the number of Officers had recently increased with another intake of staff. It was advised that the focus of the Police had changed and developed over the last five years, with current Police main focus on being Threat, Harm and Risk.

The Committee were told that it had been reported in a news article that the number of tickets being issued having been reduced by 1000, and though the figures are not being disputed, it was explained that the demands of the Police force are changing. Examples were given of two large drug busts which took place recently, as well as the diverting of resources and Officers to teams to combat the sexual exploitation of children and cyber investigation to stop online grooming. It was noted that there was a need to balance, but the force prioritised deploying services to more vulnerable members of the public.

The Committee asked the following:

A Member queried the annual salary of a PCSO. In the additional information report it stated the cost to the Police to implement suitable traffic enforcement would be in excess of £50k per year, and would only cover the city centre with one Officer. It was also queried what the implications would be if the Council did not take over parking enforcement. Members were advised that the starting wage for a PCSO is £20k. Members were also advised that the Police expect the Local Authority to come in line with other authorities currently enforcing parking. The Police would not walk away from enforcement, however the Police were anticipating that the Council would be able to adopt Civil Parking Enforcement duties before December 2019. The Chief Inspector then explained that discussions by Senior Officers within the Police and Local Authorities be needed if the Local Authority were not in a position to enforce after this date.

Parking issues around schools was then discussed, in particular around the Rogerstone and Caerleon areas. Members also discussed the bollards in the city centre which had been lowered previously over the years. It was asked whether the parking enforcement would cover the school areas. Members were advised that when applying for the enforcement powers it would cover the whole city and resources would need to reflect this. The Officers explained that there are different levels of cover which would apply across the city. Modelling undertaken had anticipated an  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

The Committee discussed the forward work programme, in particular the items on the next two Committee meetings.

The City Centre Public Spaces Protection Order was scheduled to be discussed at the next meeting, and the Committee were advised that the Public Protection Manager along with a representative from the Police would be in attendance to discuss if amendments are needed for the order.

Actions

The Committee agreed to note the items scheduled for the next two meetings.

The meeting terminated at 11.00am.