Vale of White Horse District Councils’ Cabinet has agreed to move forward with proposals for Civil Parking Enforcement (CPE). The move could see responsibility for parking enforcement transfer from the police to a new team managed by Oxfordshire County Council by the end of 2021.
Enforcement for on-street parking in the Vale is currently carried out by the police, however this can put unnecessary extra pressure on police resources and leave parking problems unresolved as the police focus on more serious crimes.
Local councils can apply to the government to take on powers for Civil Parking Enforcement which allows them to fine motorists who park illegally or drive in bus lanes.
Vale of White Horse District Council has been working alongside Oxfordshire County Council, South Oxfordshire District Council and Cherwell District Council to investigate the feasibility of implementing CPE arrangements within their three districts.
Following approval by their respective Cabinets, the proposals will now move forward and the district councils will ask Oxfordshire County Council to submit a joint CPE application to the government for approval.
If the application is approved by the government, a new team managed by Oxfordshire County Council would be launched to enforce on-street parking. It is hoped that CPE could be introduced in the Vale by the end of 2021. Enforcement for off-street car parks in the Vale will continue to be managed by the district council via its contract with Saba.
Cllr Neil Fawcett, Cabinet Member for Strategic Partnerships and Place at Vale of White Horse District Council, said: “I know road users and pedestrians will welcome the changes to the way in which parking enforcement is carried out with the introduction of this new system. Our proposal for Civil Parking Enforcement follows significant work with the other councils and so I’m very pleased that we have now all agreed to move forward and jointly apply to become a CPE area.”
