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Parking enforcement guidance notes

Introduction

This information is intended to inform the public and provide guidance to council employees working in the enforcement of parking regulations.

This is consistent with current best practice and aims to provide clarity, consistency and transparency within the enforcement process and compliance with the aspirations of the Traffic Penalty Tribunal (formerly the National Parking Adjudication Service) and the Local Government Ombudsman.

What is important about this guidance is that it represents a foundation upon which fairness and discretion can be applied. The importance of flexibility in these matters has been recognised by the courts and, as a consequence, decisions made by councils must not be fettered by being unduly formulaic.

The guidance addresses the following:

• Observation times for Civil Enforcement Officers
• The statutory grounds upon which representations may be made
• Mitigating circumstances
• The acceptance or rejection of representations

It is important to recognise that each case will be considered on its own merits, matters of proportionality, objectivity, fairness and reasonableness should be paramount.

This guidance will be subject to ongoing review.