Residents Association spokesman for StreetCare and Parking, Cllr Andrew Mann has hit out over the amount of income the Councils new CCTV Smart Cars are making from issuing parking tickets by stealth across the Borough.
This Follows Havering’s Cabinet member for Parking (Cllr Barry Tebbutt) having to supply Cllr Mann with the breakdown of the amount of tickets issued since the car was introduced at a recent Full Council Meeting.
Mobile CCTV Parking Enforcement commenced on Tuesday 8th June 2007.
At the close of business on the 7th June 2008 (exactly 12 months since the cars started to operate) 26,837 CCTV Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) have been issued.
The total amount of tickets to be issued across the Borough since the cars started operating is 28,011
Cllr Mann said “The truth is finally out, the figures say it all, in the original report concerning the car, it was assumed they would only issue 2200 tickets a year, at an income of £80k. However, this is not the case, as they have been issuing that amount each month, with a much larger payment rate due to the photo evidence and have actually issued that amount in a month and issued over 26,000 tickets”
The worse place to be caught, is in Victoria Road, Romford, with over 8% of all tickets, with almost 1000 issued in this one street alone, second place in the top ten is Atlanta Blvd, Romford with 6% of all issued.
If the same payment rates were kept up throughout the year, then income could be well in excess of £1.7 million in a full year. The original report also suggested that the car would only be used around protecting school children at schools and on yellow zig zags and crossings.
Over 12 months ago, Cllr Mann warned about the possible future use of the covert cars and felt at the time they were introduced, caution should be taken and also warned that they should not be used as an income generator for the Council.
In a Town Hall press release dated 20/03/07, Conservative Cabinet Member Cllr Barry Tebbutt said “I have no problem with this car being used to target indiscriminate parking around schools and pedestrian crossings which poses a real danger to our children”. However, it would seem that this is not the case as there is no school or crossing near to these shops.
Cllr Mann said “It has now become quite clear that this car was only introduced to make money, it is just a cash cow, sucking the life out of our Town Centres, coupled with the new charges being introduced for smaller shopping centres such as Collier Row, Hornchurch, Upminster, Cranham, Elm Park and Rainham this Conservative Administration are going to kill of the smaller towns in Havering in favour of Romford Town Centre”
Breakdown of income and ticket numbers:
According to the answer at the last Full Council meeting (on 23rd July 2008), the total amount of tickets issued since 7th June 2007 and up to and including the 8th June 2008 comes to 26,837. That makes an average of just over 70 tickets a day, on 7 day week (which they work) and on 365 days a year that makes 25,513 tickets in a year.
So if we say that the average over the six months was 70 a day, I come up with the following income workings.
70 tickets issued, of that 90% are paid, 10% are lost due to bad DVLA data and non traceable.
90% of the daily average of 70 is 63 tickets issued that are paid.
Half are paid at discount 31.5 at £50 £ 1,575
Half are paid in full 31.5 at £100 £ 3,150
Total Income a day £ 4,725
Total Income a Week £ 33,075
Total Income a month £ 143,718
Times 365 days a year £1,724,625
That makes a grand total of £4,725 a day or £143,718 a month; these figures are worked out on only the first seven months issued. However, it does not take into consideration that each ticket issued was at the lower amount.
For example, I have worked each ticket out at the lower band of £100; however any ticket issued within the Romford Ring Road is £120 and £60 at discount. The sums could in fact be quite a bit higher, as I know for example; Atlanta Boulevard is the highest ticketed location in the Borough, which is inside the Ring Road.
With the above sum of £143,718 a month, this makes a grand total of £1,724,625 a year, or in simple terms £1.7m a year of parking tax being taken form Havering residents.
This Follows Havering’s Cabinet member for Parking (Cllr Barry Tebbutt) having to supply Cllr Mann with the breakdown of the amount of tickets issued since the car was introduced at a recent Full Council Meeting.
Mobile CCTV Parking Enforcement commenced on Tuesday 8th June 2007.
At the close of business on the 7th June 2008 (exactly 12 months since the cars started to operate) 26,837 CCTV Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) have been issued.
The total amount of tickets to be issued across the Borough since the cars started operating is 28,011
Cllr Mann said “The truth is finally out, the figures say it all, in the original report concerning the car, it was assumed they would only issue 2200 tickets a year, at an income of £80k. However, this is not the case, as they have been issuing that amount each month, with a much larger payment rate due to the photo evidence and have actually issued that amount in a month and issued over 26,000 tickets”
The worse place to be caught, is in Victoria Road, Romford, with over 8% of all tickets, with almost 1000 issued in this one street alone, second place in the top ten is Atlanta Blvd, Romford with 6% of all issued.
If the same payment rates were kept up throughout the year, then income could be well in excess of £1.7 million in a full year. The original report also suggested that the car would only be used around protecting school children at schools and on yellow zig zags and crossings.
Over 12 months ago, Cllr Mann warned about the possible future use of the covert cars and felt at the time they were introduced, caution should be taken and also warned that they should not be used as an income generator for the Council.
In a Town Hall press release dated 20/03/07, Conservative Cabinet Member Cllr Barry Tebbutt said “I have no problem with this car being used to target indiscriminate parking around schools and pedestrian crossings which poses a real danger to our children”. However, it would seem that this is not the case as there is no school or crossing near to these shops.
Cllr Mann said “It has now become quite clear that this car was only introduced to make money, it is just a cash cow, sucking the life out of our Town Centres, coupled with the new charges being introduced for smaller shopping centres such as Collier Row, Hornchurch, Upminster, Cranham, Elm Park and Rainham this Conservative Administration are going to kill of the smaller towns in Havering in favour of Romford Town Centre”
Breakdown of income and ticket numbers:
According to the answer at the last Full Council meeting (on 23rd July 2008), the total amount of tickets issued since 7th June 2007 and up to and including the 8th June 2008 comes to 26,837. That makes an average of just over 70 tickets a day, on 7 day week (which they work) and on 365 days a year that makes 25,513 tickets in a year.
So if we say that the average over the six months was 70 a day, I come up with the following income workings.
70 tickets issued, of that 90% are paid, 10% are lost due to bad DVLA data and non traceable.
90% of the daily average of 70 is 63 tickets issued that are paid.
Half are paid at discount 31.5 at £50 £ 1,575
Half are paid in full 31.5 at £100 £ 3,150
Total Income a day £ 4,725
Total Income a Week £ 33,075
Total Income a month £ 143,718
Times 365 days a year £1,724,625
That makes a grand total of £4,725 a day or £143,718 a month; these figures are worked out on only the first seven months issued. However, it does not take into consideration that each ticket issued was at the lower amount.
For example, I have worked each ticket out at the lower band of £100; however any ticket issued within the Romford Ring Road is £120 and £60 at discount. The sums could in fact be quite a bit higher, as I know for example; Atlanta Boulevard is the highest ticketed location in the Borough, which is inside the Ring Road.
With the above sum of £143,718 a month, this makes a grand total of £1,724,625 a year, or in simple terms £1.7m a year of parking tax being taken form Havering residents.
4 comments:
On the issue of safty, how is it acceptable for this vehicle to stop and park while photographing someone in a position often far more dangrous and obstructive than the target vehicle? and I might add often for longer than the target vehicles!! shouldent the car be taking " photos both date and time stamped to be produced to prove the car had atcually PARKED as opposed to STOPPED. Also on the safty issue why is it that if you try to drop off or pick up someone at the Bingo Hall in Hornchurch there is a very high chance of getting a PCN but later in the evining there in no smart car to be seen when dozens of cab drivers make an ad hoc rank outside Simply blues and outside Olivers and the Cricketers lineing up right through th traffic light controlled junction on an 'A' class road? when they have an official rank marked out outside the Hogshead not 300yrds away?
Park correctly the income will be zero, weres the issue stop defending bad pratice
I appreciate that if everyone park properly, there would be a zero income for the Council, I am not saying people should be alloed to park how they want.
My complaint has always been around the car driving doen back streets at 03.00 in the morning, knicking people parked 3 inches outside of a white box, etc.
This is the main complain, along with getting a ticket for dropping someone off at Romford Station in the morning, the list of issues goes on.
having worked for havering parking, and used the cctv car, do the public realise that apart from bus stops the car has to film youre vehicle ilegaly parked for 45 seconds. however i am still awaiting a reply since leaving because i did not agree with their ethics. i was shown although didnt how to extend the time after the vehicle had moved ie 5 seconds stationary added 40 to issue an ilegal ticket. i witnessed this as common practise amoungst some wardens and the council managers are aware and do nothing, easy money appeal all tickets i say
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