Our parking charter

Our approach to parking enforcement is to be fair but firm. Our parking charter outlines how we intend to deliver the best possible service to motorists.

Fair

• We will explain and communicate the parking rules
• Where possible, we will photograph parking contraventions to support the issue of a penalty charge notice
• We will regularly monitor traffic signs and road markings to help motorists parking throughout the borough
• We will review our parking services regularly to see how they can be improved, while also taking account of resource constraints

Firm

• We will take consistent enforcement action to deter inconsiderate parking
• We will pursue people who try and evade penalty charges to recover debt owed to us
• We will work with the police to prevent crime and antisocial behaviour and to protect our civil enforcement officers from abuse and violence

Best possible service

• We will reply as quickly as possible to representations (appeals) against penalty charge notices, while properly investigating motorists' comments
• We will aim to get penalty charge notices right first time using accurate "hand-held" technology
• We will take every opportunity to develop online services to improve customer access to information
• We will develop the on-street parking service to include: Blue Badge enforcement, school patrols, advice and information and assistance at special events

Civil Enforcement Officers will adopt a helpful attitude and a consistent approach to enforcement to encourage lawful and considerate parking. Our customer promise is that we will always:

• be professional, fair and courteous
• be polite, calm and understanding
• be open and honest
• offer advice on the appeals procedure if requested

Objectives of parking control

Our parking control objectives are to:

• minimise the use of vehicles in the busiest and congested areas at what experience and research shows to be the most appropriate times
• at the same time provide sufficient short-stay parking facilities to support shops/commercial organisations and leisure activities, thereby underpinning social and economic life
• reduce the risk of accidents
• safeguard the needs and requirements of residents, visitors, businesses and other organisations
• improve traffic conditions
• preserve and improve the infrastructure and the general environment
• increase and improve pedestrian and cyclist mobility
• regulate and control parking both on and off street