PaulRogan

The ruling Tory Cabinet of Calderdale Council is now proposing to out-source Parking Enforcement Officers. A decision by a very few which will effect us all.

It is fair to accept that this issue is a difficult one. Fundamentally I agree with UNISON that Council services should remain in-house and not be out-sourced.

There are already too many out-sourced services which become too much at arms-length and can no longer be properly guided by The People through their local elected members.

Specifically with regard to parking services... which really means parking enforcement.. there is a major difference.

Firstly, the parking enforcement officers were supposed to also be a road safety service, especially outside schools at busy periods; not necessarily to hand out tickets but to ensure the safety of our children on busy roads, especially when there is an increase in inconsiderate drivers around.

Secondly, parking enforcement is perhaps one of the most unpopular functions in life. We all know about the general hostility towards parking wardens. The police must have been more than thankful to be allowed to off load this unpopular job onto local authorities. Local councils are already unpopular enough! They send out what is perhaps the biggest single bill to households each year. They are at the sharp end of most unpopular central government legislation... wheelie bins etc. Local Authorities don't need parking enforcement to add to their general perception of ‘bad guys'.

In my view, this is where in West Yorkshire a joint councils approach would be a better solution. The five authorities should set up a West Yorkshire Road Safety Service. This joint body should employ their own staff, hand out parking enforcement notices, collect the fines AND provide road safety services generally, especially out side schools and maybe even fund the lollipop people. Individual Councils would not have to carry the unpopular stigma of handing out parking tickets and at the end of each year could have a divi up of any surpluses, at the same time providing a much improved and self funding road safety service for the people of West Yorkshire.