From: motorcycleparking
Sent: 29 January 2010 12:16
To: motorcycleparking
Subject: MOTORCYCLE PARKING OBJECTIONS

 

I refer to your formal objection against the making of permanent Traffic Orders for the motorcycle charging scheme.

 

The formal objections received in June and July 2009 were summarised and addressed in a formal report entitled ‘Motorcycle Charging Scheme – Objections to the Making of Permanent Traffic Orders’, which was submitted to the Cabinet Member for City Management on 1 October 2009. I have included a copy of this report as an attachment to this email.

 

Before making a decision on whether to make the Orders as proposed, the Cabinet Member met individually in October 2009 with four of the leading motorcycle groups and a private transport consultant, who was speaking on behalf of motorcyclists opposed to the Orders, to discuss the scheme and to listen to their further concerns. The points raised by them which had not been addressed in the 1 October 2009 report were then set out and addressed in a supplementary formal report entitled ‘Motorcycle Charging Scheme – Objections to the Making of Permanent Traffic Orders – Supplementary Report’, which was submitted to the Cabinet Member on 21 December 2009. I have included a copy of this report as an attachment to this email.

 

On 6 January 2010 the Cabinet Member, having considered the two reports and having considered the objections to the proposed Orders and officers’ comments thereon (as set out in the report of 1 October), decided that the permanent Traffic Orders should be made as proposed for the reasons given by officers in their comments on the objections. The Cabinet Member’s Notice of Decision in respect of the report of 1 October 2009 stated the following –

 

“1            That the objections received by the Council to the proposed permanent Traffic Orders have been considered and that the comments of the Council’s officers in relation to such objections be endorsed including those set out in the supplementary report.

 

2              That the making of the Traffic Orders making the motorcycle charging scheme permanent be approved.

 

3              That the details of the Orders be as proposed in the Notice of Proposals. This includes a reduction in the price of a residents’ permit for a motorcycle to £50 per annum.

 

4              That holders of current residents’ permits for motorcycles purchased from 1 April 2009 receive a rebate on the unused portion of their permit to reflect the proposed price reduction.

 

5              That the City Council establishes a road users’ forum.”

 

His Notice of Decision in respect of the report of 21 December 2009 stated as follows:

 

“That the contents of the supplementary report having been taken into consideration alongside the 1 October 2009 report when making a decision as regards the making of permanent Traffic Orders for the motorcycle charging scheme be noted.”

 

Both Notices of Decision are posted on the City Council’s website at –

http://www.westminster.gov.uk/services/transportandstreets/parking/wheretopark/vehicletype/motorcycle/changes-to-motorcycle-charging-scheme/

 

The permanent Traffic Orders were made on 18 January 2010 and came into force on 25 January 2010. Should anyone wish to question the validity of the Orders, paragraph 35 of Schedule 9 to the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 allows for proceedings to be brought in the High Court against the City Council on the grounds either that the Orders are not within the relevant powers, or that any of the relevant requirements have not been complied with. Proceedings must be brought within six weeks of the date on which the Orders were made. Paragraph 36 states that the Court, if satisfied that the order, or any provision of the order, is not within the relevant powers, or that the interests of the applicant have been substantially prejudiced by failure to comply with any of the relevant requirements, may quash the order or any provision of the order. Paragraph 37 of Schedule 9 states that, except as provided by Part VI of Schedule 9, an order to which Part VI of Schedule 9 applies shall not, either before or after it has been made, be questioned in any legal proceedings whatever.

 

The full batch of display documents for the Traffic Orders concerning the motorcycle charging scheme can be viewed at One Stop Services at Westminster City Hall, 62 Victoria Street, SW1E 6QP.

 

Further information regarding the scheme can be found on the Council’s website at –

http://www.westminster.gov.uk/services/transportandstreets/parking/wheretopark/vehicletype/motorcycle/

 

 

Amanda Jones

West One Infrastructure Services

10th Floor, Westminster City Hall

64 Victoria Street

London  SW1E 6QP