I really feel that, given all the excitement in the press, I have to make a comment about the hot potato that is the car parking situation in Sudbury.
The bottom line is that it is hard to escape the conclusion that this has not been Babergh’s finest hour.
In January I wrote about the meeting at which the introduction of these machines was contemplated:-
‘we were asked to approve the payment of £89,000 for ticket machines to be installed in car parks in Hadleigh and Sudbury. These, we were assured would not be for charging purposes, but to improve the productivity of the phantom traffic warden who allegedly haunts the streets of both towns.(Yes! There has been a very occasional sighting!)
‘I decided to abstain from voting for this proposal.
‘My reasons for this were twofold; firstly I felt that no sensible financial case had been made for the erection of these non-paying machines to assist the virtually non appearing traffic warden, and secondly I do believe that a debate about car parking should be an in depth and holistic discussion that examines all the issues. Erecting these machines now is seen by most people as a sly little measure that represents the thin edge of a predictable wedge.’
Well I was certainly wrong about the financial case! The traffic warden has appeared like magic and the machines have proved to be a fantastic money spinner for the council... a real financial success in these straightened times. A friend was sitting in the central car park in Sudbury the other day waiting for their wife and he saw in HALF an HOUR some five or six people receive tickets. Of course this predatory behaviour is disgraceful . It is clear that the public were insufficiently informed with regard to the introduction of the machines. No one deliberately, after all, fails to acquire a FREE ticket in order to avoid a fine.
In my opinion, when it became apparent that so many people were falling foul of the system the scheme should have been suspended while proper signage was put in place and further publicity undertaken. Instead we ploughed on with the scheme, and it is only in the last few days that mistakes have been admitted.
I know that there has been pressure from some councillors behind the scenes to make improvements to the scheme. Colin Spence was quickly on the case, recommending to officers that the signage needed to be significantly improved. I have to say that I find it frustrating that elected Members didn’t have more say in the formation and execution of the policy from the outset. We are not supposed to get down into the detail when it comes to this sort of thing, but more input from councillors at an early stage might have avoided what has resulted in a PR catastrophe for Babergh.
This is an example of how the Committee System at Babergh is unsatisfactory. Had there been a responsible portfolio holder an elected representative would have been held accountable. I guarantee that the scheme would have been more efficiently introduced, and if it hadn’t been the public would have known who to blame.
If Babergh does survive Local Government Reorganisation (and there are some faint hints this weekend that it may) then a Leader and Cabinet system should be introduced.
