Parking Ticket Data

Paul Bradshaw made this Freedom of Information request to Cambridge City Council

The request was partially successful.

From: Paul Bradshaw

4 August 2009

Dear Sir or Madam,

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 I would like to request
some information relating to the enforcement of parking
restrictions, specifically penalty charge notices.

1. I would like to request the raw data set of parking tickets
issued in the name of the council within the last five year period
broken down by:
date, time, location, narrative of infraction, current status of
case, next status of case, transaction details (ie. date, time and
method of payments made), officer ID

2. I would also like to request any information regarding
‘reward’/bonus schemes/contracts in place for your parking
enforcement officers. This is envisaged to cover the details of any
systems, including (where bonuses are paid) the amount per officer
per year, for the last five years.

Regarding part 1. ideally I would like the location unit to be
'street' but if this is not practical then under your section 16
duty to advise and assist I would expect you to contact me to
discuss how you record this geospatial data so that I may narrow my
request in a way that works for both of us.

As a supplementary, under section 16, I would also ask that you
provide some detail about the recording processes of this parking
information. E.g. What software is used? What data fields are
recorded? What other data sets it links to, etc.

If this information is held by an outside contractor then it is
your responsibility under the FOIA to obtain that information.

If it is held by another public body then please can you inform me
of this and if possible transfer the request to that public body.
My preferred format to receive this information is by electronic
means. For both parts I would like the response to be in the form
of a raw text file, tab delimited, with text qualifiers where
required.

If you need any clarification of this request or if it is too broad
in any way please feel free to email me. If some parts of this
request
are more difficult to answer than others please release the
answerable material as it is available rather than hold up the
entire request for the contested data.

If FOI requests of a similar nature have already been asked could
you please include your responses to those requests. I would be
grateful if you could confirm in writing that you have received
this request, and I look forward to hearing from you within the
20-working day statutory time period.

Yours faithfully,

Paul Bradshaw

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From: Ceri Littlechild
Cambridge City Council

5 August 2009

Attachment FOI98.doc
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Dear Mr Bradshaw

Thank you for your email. Please find attached a formal acknowledgement
of your FOI request.

Kind regards

Ceri Littlechild
PA to Director of City Services
Mill Road Depot
Tel 01223 458277

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04/08/2009 15:51 >>>
Dear Sir or Madam,

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 I would like to request
some information relating to the enforcement of parking
restrictions, specifically penalty charge notices.

1. I would like to request the raw data set of parking tickets
issued in the name of the council within the last five year
period
broken down by: date, time, location, narrative of infraction,
current status of case, next status of case, transaction details
(ie. date, time and method of payments made), officer ID

2. I would also like to request any information regarding
‘reward’/bonus schemes/contracts in place for your parking
enforcement officers. This is envisaged to cover the details of
any
systems, including (where bonuses are paid) the amount per
officer
per year, for the last five years.

Regarding part 1. ideally I would like the location unit to be
'street' but if this is not practical then under your section 16
duty to advise and assist I would expect you to contact me to
discuss how you record this geospatial data so that I may narrow
my
request in a way that works for both of us.

As a supplementary, under section 16, I would also ask that you
provide some detail about the recording processes of this parking
information. E.g. What software is used? What data fields are
recorded? What other data sets it links to, etc.

If this information is held by an outside contractor then it is
your responsibility under the FOIA to obtain that information.

If it is held by another public body then please can you inform
me
of this and if possible transfer the request to that public body.
My preferred format to receive this information is by electronic
means. For both parts I would like the response to be in the form
of a raw text file, tab delimited, with text qualifiers where
required.

If you need any clarification of this request or if it is too
broad
in any way please feel free to email me. If some parts of this
request are more difficult to answer than others please release
the
answerable material as it is available rather than hold up the
entire request for the contested data.

If FOI requests of a similar nature have already been asked could
you please include your responses to those requests. I would be
grateful if you could confirm in writing that you have received
this request, and I look forward to hearing from you within the
20-working day statutory time period.

Yours faithfully,

Paul Bradshaw

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From: Christopher Casboult
Cambridge City Council

10 August 2009

Attachment Cambridge Parking Report 2005 2006.pdf
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Attachment Cambridge Parking Report 2006 2007.pdf
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Attachment Cambridge Parking Report 2008 2009.pdf
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Attachment Cambridge Parking Report 2007 2008.pdf
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Attachment Freedom of Information request Parking Ticket Data.txt
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Dear Mr Bradshaw

Thank you for your freedom of information request.

In reference to point number 1 of your request since beginning Local Authority Parking Enforcement in November 2004 we have issued over 188,113 Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs). Bearing this in mind I am sure you can understand that the amount of work in providing you with the information criteria you have asked for would exceed the permitted allowance of 18 hours to provide a free freedom of information response. In addition the data requested cannot be supplied by running one individual report. I therefore invite you to redefine your request in respect of point 1.

Should it be easier to discuss your redefined request then please do not hesitate to contact me directly on (01223) 458520.

Whilst I await your response and collect the other information you have requested I have taken the liberty of attaching our annual reports which we produce each year to fully keep members of the public and our elected members up to date of our annual performance. These contain amongst things PCNs issued, the top 10 streets, number of appeals received, number of payments made and our use each year of any surplus generated.

Kind Regards

Mr Chris Casboult
Contract Monitoring Officer- Parking Services - Cambridge City Council
Direct Telephone Num: (01223) 458520

Mr Chris Casboult
Contract Monitoring Officer- Parking Services - Cambridge City Council
Direct Telephone Num: (01223) 458520

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From: Paul Bradshaw

10 August 2009

Dear Christopher Casboult,

Thanks for confirming what information you are able to provide, by
using the 'front end reporting' features of the system you use to
record PCN details.

I would just like to clarify - is it possible that the IT/database
administrator can produce the selected field extract from the
database backend (In my experience, databases often sit on MySQL/MS
SQL/Oracle backends - and the IT/database Administrator of the
system can often extract out information that the systems
'reporting' options don't allow).

If the size of the data extract is too large for it to be
compressed (zipped) and emailed, then I am happy to provide you
with FTP details (the IT contact could transfer the files), or to
receive the data on a CD/DVD. I understand that to produce some
reports in a 'paper' format is not the best for either of us.

Sizewise, the physical number of records will be no issue for me; I
cannot narrow down the request anymore than it already is. (That
being a limited number of fields, by PCN issued, for the 5 year
period).

Obviously if some of the information is not held in the database
(perhaps regarding the payment status etc,) then I would not want
to trouble you by having someone to review the actual case records
(as I understand this would be above and beyond the £450/2.5 day
limit)

Yours sincerely,

Paul Bradshaw

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From: Christopher Casboult
Cambridge City Council

28 August 2009

Attachment Next Event to be Triggered Codes.txt
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Attachment 31st October 2007 to 21st April 2009 PCNs Issued.txt
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Attachment 8 th November 2004 to 10th May 2006 PCNs Issued.txt
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Attachment 11th May 2006 to 30th October 2007 PCNs Issued.txt
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Attachment 22nd April 2009 to 31st July 2009 PCNs Issued.txt
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Dear Mr Bradshaw

Thank you for your Freedom of Information Request.

Our processing system does not permit us to provide one sole report
meeting the information criteria you have requested. Therefore
information regarding Penalty Charge Notices served forms one type of
report and the information regarding payments received forms the second
type of report.

Please find attached reports detailing each Penalty Charge Notice
served since 8th November 2004 up to the 31st July 2009. Also attached
is an explanation of each of the ‘Next Event to be Triggered’ codes.

I would add that this data does show PCNs that whilst are reported as
served were either created for testing purposes and then cancelled as
test tickets and those PCNs where a PCN was printed but was not served
as the vehicle drove away. These are subsequently cancelled as vehicle
drive away. We currently do not serve PCNs by post as permitted by the
Traffic Management Act 2004 to vehicles that have driven away.

Please find additional reports detailing the records of payments made
by type received from the 8th November 2004 up till 31st July 2009 for
Penalty Charge Notices.

There are no bonus schemes or rewards in place for our Civil
Enforcement Officers (CEO). Each CEO is paid a salary based on the hours
they work. As they are not council staff I do not hold any of this
payment information.

The software we use is Si-Dem provided by Spur Solutions Ltd.

The data fields populated are as follows: PCN number, served date, date
of contravention, time, VRM, make, colour, RFL number, RFL expiry date,
observation time, location, CEO number, contravention code,
contravention description, Current Status of Case, Next Status of Case,
amount paid or outstanding, payment details, vehicle owner details (if
appropriate), CEO handheld number, front and rear tyre valve positions,
destination of PCN (e.g. windscreen or handed to driver), destination
time and date and CEO’s pocket book number. The Sidem system also
identifies any permits issued by City Council to that particular vehicle
(e.g. Resident/City Centre access permits).

The software links into the DVLA. This enables us to obtain the
registered keepers details to forward the appropriate paperwork should
the PCN remain unpaid.

I am not aware of any Freedom of Information requests made that are of
a similar nature.

I hope the information contained and the annual reports provided meet
your requirements. If I can be of further assistance regarding this
matter or any further parking related queries please do not hesitate to
contact me directly on (01223) 458520 or via email.

PLEASE NOTE Due to size of files payment reports to be forwarded in
separate email.

Kind Regards

Chris Casboult

Mr Chris Casboult
Contract Monitoring Officer- Parking Services - Cambridge City Council
Direct Telephone Num: (01223) 458520

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From: Christopher Casboult
Cambridge City Council

28 August 2009

Attachment 1st January 2007 to 31st March 2007 Payments.txt
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Attachment 1st January 2008 to 31st March 2008 Payments.txt
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Attachment 1st January 2009 to 31st March 2009 Payments.txt
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Attachment 1st July 2005 to 31st December 2005 Payments.txt
1.9M Download View as HTML

Attachment 1st July 2007 to 30th September 2007 Payments.txt
926K Download View as HTML

Attachment 1st July 2008 to 30th September 2008 Payments.txt
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Attachment 1st July to 30th September 2006 Payments.txt
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Attachment 1st October 2006 to 31st December 2006 Payments.txt
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Attachment 1st October 2007 to 31st December 2007 Payments.txt
982K Download View as HTML

Attachment 1st October 2008 to 31st December 2008 Payments.txt
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Attachment 8th November 2004 to 31st December 2004 Payments.txt
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Attachment 1st April 2006 to 30th June 2006 Payments.txt
992K Download View as HTML

Attachment 1st April 2007 to 30th June 2007 Payments.txt
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Attachment 1st April 2008 to 30th June 2008 Payments.txt
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Attachment 1st April 2009 to 31st July 2009 Payments.txt
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Attachment 1st Jan 2005 to 31st May 2005 Payments.txt
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Attachment 1st January 2006 to 31st March 2006 Payments.txt
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Dear Mr Bradshaw

Please find Payment reports from Cambridge City Council.

Kind Regards
Chris Casboult

Mr Chris Casboult
Contract Monitoring Officer- Parking Services - Cambridge City Council
Direct Telephone Num: (01223) 458520

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Neil left an annotation (28 August 2009)

Looks good,

Will take a copy and put it online later.

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From: Christopher Casboult
Cambridge City Council

1 September 2009

Dear Mr Bradshaw

Due to the large size of the reports sent on Friday 28th August regarding your Freedom of Information request please could you confirm that you received the reports.

Kind Regards
Chris Casboult

Mr Chris Casboult
Contract Monitoring Officer- Parking Services - Cambridge City Council
Direct Telephone Num: (01223) 458520

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From: Paul Bradshaw

7 September 2009

Dear Christopher Casboult,

Yes - thank you very much.

Yours sincerely,

Paul Bradshaw

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From: Christopher Casboult
Cambridge City Council

7 September 2009

I am away from the office until Monday 7th September. If your email requires an urgent response please can you resend to [email address]. Emails to this account will be checked frequently.

If you wish to speak to a member of the Contract Monitoring Team please call one of my colleagues direct on (01223) 458521.

I will answer any outstanding emails on my return.

Kind Regards

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Dear Christopher Casboult,

Yes - thank you very much.

Yours sincerely,

Paul Bradshaw

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From: Paul Bradshaw

18 December 2009

Dear Christopher Casboult,

This request is now long overdue. I would like to request an
internal review to ascertain why this is taking so long?

Yours sincerely,

Paul Bradshaw

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From: Christopher Casboult
Cambridge City Council

18 December 2009

Attachment Re Freedom of Information request Parking Ticket Data.txt
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Dear Mr Bradshaw

It is my understanding that all the information you requested was provided. I am not sure what information I haven't provided that would render your freedom of information request still open.

I have attached the email sent by you on the 7th September 2009 in which you confirmed that you had received all the requested reports.

If you can come back to me on what information I haven't supplied then I will forward this to you without delay.

Kind Regards
Mr Chris Casboult

Mr Chris Casboult
Contract Monitoring Officer- Parking Services - Cambridge City Council
Direct Telephone Num: (01223) 458520

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