Agenda item

To update members on progress made so far by FDC and Cambridgeshire County Council in respect of the CPE implementation works, following the previous Cabinet update paper on 13^th June 2022. 

Members considered the On and Off-Street Parking Enforcement Update paper presented by Councillor Mrs French.

·         Councillor Boden said it is disappointing that there is still no reasonable agreement from County Council about a draft agency agreement or proposed service level agreement, neither about meeting the shortfall in funding required to bring the road signs and markings up to the necessary standard to hand them over under civil parking enforcement. He would suggest to members that County Council be told it is their responsibility; Fenland District Council are already putting £400,000 of market town monies into this, it is up to County to bring this up to the acceptable standard and failure to do so is unacceptable.

·         Councillor Mrs Laws said the County Council surely have a duty of care and legal responsibility for this. Councillor Boden responded that legal advice is currently being sought on this very issue.

·         Councillor Tierney said it is his opinion that County Council are failing in almost every respect regarding Highways; the paths and roads are in a terrible state, and the signs are all wrong for civil parking enforcement, all of which is a symptom of deterioration of the Highways Service. This is a statutory responsibility and County’s priorities are wrong; he is glad that legal advice is being taken because they should at least be putting the signs right according to the law.

·         Councillor Miscandlon said he echoed Councillor Tierney’s comment and is glad that legal advice is being sought.

·         Councillor Mrs Laws agreed, saying she has never seen the towns and villages look so appalling. Weeds are growing through drains which need to be kept clear to be able to dispose of surface water. There has been a complete deterioration over the last few years, and she is pleased that action is being taken.

·         Councillor Hoy said there is a view that the weeding is not being done because it is more bee friendly, however she wishes Fenland could make cuts to service in the guise they were environmentally friendly. For example, in respect of leisure centres it could be argued the most environmentally carbon friendly thing to do would be to close them down, but she doubts that would receive any support. There will be no resolution with Highways because the County Council have made no secret that they want to discourage car ownership. She has recently heard the argument that Fenland has one of the lowest levels of car ownership in the county so it is being said that because people cannot afford to drive in Fenland there should be more public transport. She would not disagree with that, but it is not recognised how many people locally rely on their cars to get to work and it is her opinion that nothing will change; Fenland will receive nothing from the County Council because they have no interest in this area at all.

·         Councillor Boden agreed this seems to be part of a war on motorists by those who see themselves as the best arbiters as to what people can do, what they should do and how they should do it. This is something that needs to be resisted as far as possible.

Proposed by Councillor Mrs French, seconded by Councillor Boden and AGREED to:

1.    Note the progress being made by FDC and CCC in respect of moving the introduction of CPE forward.

2.    In respect of the recommendation to note the predicted increase in budget in relation to the scheme and request that further updates are brought forward as they become available and prior to a final decision being taken as to how this will be funded, to  give some advice about how to proceed with the estimated CPE project funding shortfall and have officers go back to County Council to tell them it is their responsibility to pay up, they are getting £400k of money from Fenland which could have been spent on something else so this is their best opportunity to do what they have a legal obligation to do at a cost which is less than would otherwise be the case.

3.    That the member/officer CPE project team meet to discuss and agree the draft agency agreement and service level agreement red flags.