Issue - meetings

To update members on progress made to date by FDC and Cambridgeshire County Council in respect of CPE.

AGREED to:

·         Note the updated estimated increase in the overall project delivery costs, timelines and CPE running costs post implementation.

·         Consent to officers proceeding with obtaining updated corrective works costs from Milestone which is likely in itself to incur a cost (currently unknown but estimated to be within the range of £50k to £100k).

·         Consent to officers proceeding with the implementation of CPE based on the predicted costs contained within this update report in advance of obtaining actual costs. Estimated costs to be brought back to Cabinet for approval upon receipt.

·         Provide an officer steer on any previously highlighted red line areas within the previously drafted preliminary agency agreement.

·         Approve the member/officer CPE project team to agree any red line areas in order to progress the CPE project to implementation. This would include the administration of all highway permits, suspensions, waivers and dispensations.

Members considered the Fenland Inspire! Civil Parking Enforcement Update report presented by Councillor Mrs French.

·         Councillor Tierney voiced his frustration that this is the second most common issue after street drinking and that the public believes the Council are at fault. He said this is not true, it is a case of signs and lines not being up to scratch which is the responsibility of the County Council who are not doing what they should. Fenland District Council is doing all it can to push through civil parking enforcement and if County had done their work, it would have happened already. The public are being told things which are not true which is all very unhelpful. Meanwhile he would hope that FDC will be able to use some of the Fenland Inspire! project money to upgrade the signs and lines although it should not have to. 

·         Councillor Mrs French said she and the Leader have a meeting next week with officers to discuss costings. She is concerned about how much it may cost to employ Milestones when £100,000 of Council money has already been spent on consultation. 

·         Councillor Boden agreed with Councillor Tierney, saying that County Council have refused to bring lines up to standard and have made unreasonable requirements between FDC and the Highways Authority. He was surprised to learn that there is no legal way to oblige the County Council to upgrade the signs and lines and they have not moved on this. However, it is now all academic as when civil parking enforcement is likely to come into force, both authorities will be abolished and become part of the same new authority anyway. There is no reason for this council not to push forward but it is something many residents are fed up with and they want action taken.

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

·         Note the updated estimated increase in the overall project delivery costs, timelines and CPE running costs post implementation.

·         Consent to officers proceeding with obtaining updated corrective works costs from Milestone which is likely in itself to incur a cost (currently unknown but estimated to be within the range of £50k to £100k).

·         Consent to officers proceeding with the implementation of CPE based on the predicted costs contained within this update report in advance of obtaining actual costs. Estimated costs to be brought back to Cabinet for approval upon receipt.

·         Provide an officer steer on any previously highlighted red line areas within the previously drafted preliminary agency agreement.

·         Approve the member/officer CPE project team to agree any red line areas in order to progress the CPE project to implementation. This would include the administration of all highway permits, suspensions, waivers and dispensations.