Mr Andrews request-9696-
[email address]
By Email
Our Ref:
3E/04/RI/FOI/1235
26th March 2010
Dear Mr Andrews
I am writing in response to your Freedom of Information Request below. Please accept
my sincere apologies for the delay in our response which was due to a heavy workload
over the last 12 months and some difficult in locating information relating to the historical
aspects of your request. I offer this by way of explanation and accept that it is no excuse.
We have recently re-structured the manner in which we handle requests which should
ensure that delays of this nature do not occur again.
As I understand it you were requesting to know:
1. The total project cost for the purchase and physical installation of new solar units
and the removal of existing parking meters in hillingdon. Response: The replacement cost of the machines is £536,830.
2. How many meters are being replaced and the total number of meters in
Hillingdon. Response: 170 pay and display meters are being replaced. There are 177 pay and
display machines in Hillingdon.
3. Cost per unit for the new 'Metric Aura' solar powered units. Response: The net cost for a Metric Aura solar powered unit, which includes all works
necessary to install and connect the units, is £3158
Legal Services
Deputy Chief Executive’s Office
T.01895 556923
F.01895 250784 / 01895 250233
[email address]
www.hillingdon.gov.uk
London Borough of Hillingdon,
3E/04, Civic Centre, High Street, Uxbridge, UB8 1UW, DX 45101 UXBRIDGE
Rajesh Alagh (Borough Solicitor) - LL.B (Hons), Dip.L.G.
4. The purchase cost of the old units being removed and who is taking ownership
of these units following their removal, Response: The majority of the machines were installed during 2003 at a total cost of
£118,344. However, at this time in many cases only the machine top was replaced as the
original pedestals were still compatible with the new machines. Since then additional
machines have been installed when new parking management schemes have been
introduced. The cost of a complete pay and display machine unit in 2003 was £2,360.
As part of the tender, Metric Group will be removing the machines and taking ownership of
the old units.
5. How much is Hillingdon Council receiving in payment for the old parking meter
stock? Response: The Council is receiving a total of £25,570 in payment for the old, obsolete,
pay and display parking stock.
6. How old are the existing mains charged units Response: The majority of the machines were installed during 2003. However, at this time
in many cases only the machine top was replaced as the original pedestals were still
compatible with the new machines. The original pedestals that many of these machines
were fitted on were installed many years before (12 years previously in some cases) but
we do not have any details of their original cost or when they were purchased.
Whilst the majority of the machine tops were replaced in 2003, we also had 30 machines
(which equates to 16.85% of the current machine numbers) which were much older.
These machines were Accent and Autoslot machines and unfortunately, we do not have
the original purchase/history details of these machines. Some of them may have already
been 8-10 years old in 2003.
7. How much was the original project to install the mains powered parking meters. Response: As detailed in item 3, the original project cost to install the mains powered pay
and display machines in 2003 was £118,344.
However, this cost does not include the installation costs of many of the original pedestals
or the original costs of the older Autoslot/Accent machines. The costs for these items are
not available.
Once again, please accept my apologies for the delay in our response.
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If you are not happy with our response you should put your complaint in writing to:
Principal Corporate Lawyer, Legal Services, Civic Centre, High St, Uxbridge, UB8 1UW (or
via email to [Hillingdon Borough Council request email] marked for the attention of the Principal Corporate
Lawyer).
Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.
If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have the right to apply to
the Information Commissioner for a decision. The Information Commissioner can be
contacted at: Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow,
Cheshire, SK9 5AF
If you wish to discuss this matter please do not hesitate to contact us on the details below.
Yours Sincerely
Richard Ingle
FOI/Data Protection Officer
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