Parking mad!

But you'll pay anyway

Are we witnessing the first faltering steps towards a major shake-up of parking in Boston – which could see the borough lose a lucrative source of income – and find residents paying to park outside their own homes?
A report before today’s Environment and Performance Committee recommends backing a Civil Parking Enforcement  scheme (CPE) which will see Lincolnshire County Council ticketing “on street” traffic offences – a job currently done by the police, who apparently no longer have the resources to carry on.
The original idea was that district councils would take on the job, but they couldn’t agree a plan – so now the idea is for the county to do it.
As with yesterday’s report on the “benefits” of plans for a massive increase in allotment charges – saving money for the council tax payers – we are also told of the “benefits” to accrue from fining drivers.
“This would contribute to a reduction in traffic congestion within Boston town centre, which is currently exacerbated by illegally parked vehicles.”
If the scheme is approved, the county will take over “on street” parking enforcement and keep the income from the fines.
District authorities will retain responsibility for “off street” parking, and will keep the money from that - as well as all income from car parking charges.
Whilst it sounds like a licence to print money, it is anything but.
Our cash-strapped county council will have to fork out £800,000 to introduce CPE - which is expected to lose around £175,000 a year because the costs will exceed the income.
The idea is that the county will pay half the deficit, and the districts  the rest - pro rata, based on tickets issued.
It’s reckoned that this will cost Boston about £13,000 a year, and be capped at this sum for five years.
Now, here’s where it starts to get murky.
Boston Borough Council is unique in Lincolnshire because it operates five car parks classed as “on street.” The council is responsible for parking enforcement in these car parks, and retains the money from parking and ticket charges.
With the introduction of CPE, Lincolnshire County Council will take over parking enforcement in these five car parks and  receive the income from tickets issued - about £8,000 a year.
After CPE comes in, Boston will charge less for tickets than at present … losing about £7,000 a year – but because the county is dealing with on-street enforcement, should save about £5,000 a year.
Are you with us so far?
In areas where CPE is already operating, the evidence is that effective on street enforcement herds illegal parkers into legal car parks - which it's thought in Boston will earn an extra £9,500 a year.
Boston Borough Council currently pulls in £215,000 from its five on-street car parks– but they are owned by the county council and Boston operates them with their consent.
“LCC could decide to withdraw this consent at any time resulting in a loss of this income,” warns the report.
“Under the proposed model for the introduction of CPE, Boston Borough Council will retain this income for a two-year period following the introduction of CPE. After two years Boston Borough Council and Lincolnshire County Council would meet to decide upon the future of this income.”
Whilst it's far too early to say "we told you so" - in 2014, when the scheme will have been going for two years, and the county will be harder up than ever – how likely do you think is it that they will ignore the chance to move the thick end of a quarter of a million pounds from Boston’s coffers to their own?
Then there is the matter of residents’ parking schemes - which are so unpopular in so many other areas.
Boston Borough Council does not currently run any such schemes - because it can’t police them.
But CPE will provide on-street enforcement for any resident schemes the council “might” adopt – even though it would have to pay the set up costs and also pay County Hall for enforcement duties.
Over five years, the introduction of CPE in Boston will be £136,000 through direct costs and loss of existing income.  The extra income from increased use of council car parks and reduced enforcement costs will be £65,250 - leaving the borough out of pocket to the tune of £70,750.
It seems just the sort of plan that our leaders will embrace wholeheartedly – substantial losses coupled with the likelihood of charging residents to park on their doorsteps, and the looming threat of the council losing its lucrative cark park income – though  in fairness, that could happen at any time, regardless.
Fortunately, all seven district council have to accept this plan – and they have already failed to agree an operating model two years ago.
Let’s hope they disagree again – and keep on doing so – until something that sounds more sensible is produced.

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