Councillor car parking passes

The request was successful.

Dear Plymouth City Council,

I refer to the Councillor Car Parking policy document that is available at https://www.plymouth.gov.uk/sites/defaul... .

The policy advises that the "use of permits and access cards is electronically monitored by the Parking Team".

Please advise how the Parking Team undertake this task of monitoring that permits are used appropriately.

If a permit is used to access a car park are investigations undertake to ascertain if the Councillor is on Council business as opposed to shopping/visit to theatre etc (I assume, though correct me if I am wrong, that if a car is used in the Theatre Royal car park it is likely that there should be a corresponding electronic door entry record as they enter the council house or indeed if an on street parking bay is used by a councillor outside of their ward investigations are undertaken to ascertain why they were in that area using a council permit (Section 2 of policy refers)).

Please advise how many instances in the last three years where inappropriate usage has been identified, the outcome of the findings and whether a penalty charge notice has been issued.

Would I be correct in thinking that if parking attendants were to input a registration into their devices to ascertain if a vehicle has authority (in the form of a permit) to park that all councillors registered cars would not alert the attendant that the vehicle is a councillor vehicle? Does this registration enquiry then alert the office based parking team that a councillor vehicle was observed in a particular parking area for the parking team to then make investigations if the permit was legitimately being used.

Has any consideration been given that Councillors should pay for their parking and then seek reimbursement from the council with a narrative of why they were claiming for the parking?

Yours faithfully,

Paul Gulley

Plymouth Highways, Plymouth City Council

OFFICIAL

Dear Mr Gulley,

 

FOI Reference: 920206

 

Thank you for your request for information about Councillor Car Parking
Passes.. Your request was received on the 4^th June 2020 and is being
dealt with under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

 

We will aim to provide a response to your request within the statutory
timescale of 20 working days, by the 2^nd July 2020, however, this may not
always be not possible at the present time.

 

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, many of the Council’s resources are
being refocussed to prioritise continuity of our essential services and to
further protect and support the people and businesses of Plymouth. This
means that there will, for the time being, be less staff available to
provide information in response to information rights requests. Should you
have concerns about this I would refer you to the [1]Information
Commissioner’s Office website where they have stated:

 

“We understand that resources, whether they are finances or people, might
be diverted away from usual compliance or information governance work. We
won’t penalise organisations that we know need to prioritise other areas
or adapt their usual approach during this extraordinary period.

 

We can’t extend statutory timescales, but we will tell people through our
own communications channels that they may experience understandable delays
when making information rights requests during the pandemic”.

Whilst we fully intend to try to respond to you within the statutory
timescale, where we’re not able to do this we would ask that you bear with
us.

Our response will be sent by email or hard copy depending on how you made
your request and how the information is held. 

 

If we’re unable to gather the information you’ve asked for within the cost
limit set by the government, which is 18 hours of staff time or £450, we
will contact you to discuss how we can meet your information needs within
this limit.

 

Information about the Freedom of Information Act 2000 can be found on the
Information Commissioners Office website:
[2]https://ico.org.uk/your-data-matters/off...

 

We also have information available on our website:
[3]https://www.plymouth.gov.uk/aboutcouncil...

 

Please contact me if you’re not able to find the information you’re
looking for.

 

For information about how Plymouth City Council will use the information
you supply when making a request and the information rights you have
please see our [4]Privacy Notice:  Information Access – Freedom of
Information/Environmental Information Regulations.

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

Plymouth Highways
Street Services
Plymouth City Council
Prince Rock Depot

Macadam Road
Plymouth
PL4 0RZ

 

T +441752668000

E [5][email address]

[6]www.plymouth.gov.uk

 

 

IMPORTANT: This e-mail (including any attachments to it) is strictly
confidential and intended solely for the person or organisation to whom it
is addressed. It may contain privileged, confidential or sensitive
information. If you are not the intended recipient, you must not copy or
distribute it to any other person or take any action in reliance. If you
have received it in error, please notify your system manager and the
sender as soon as possible and then delete it from your system. ' [7][IMG]
[8]'

References

Visible links
1. https://ico.org.uk/about-the-ico/news-an...
2. https://ico.org.uk/your-data-matters/off...
3. https://www.plymouth.gov.uk/aboutcouncil...
4. https://www.plymouth.gov.uk/sites/defaul...
5. mailto:[email address]
6. http://www.plymouth.gov.uk/
7. https://www.plymouth.gov.uk/covid-19
8. https://www.plymouth.gov.uk/covid-19

Plymouth Highways, Plymouth City Council

1 Attachment

OFFICIAL

Dear Mr Gulley

 

Thank you for contacting Plymouth Highways

 

Please see the response attached regarding the questions you raised.

 

If you wish to discuss these further please do not hesitate to contact us.

 

Plymouth Highways

 

 

 

 

 

IMPORTANT: This e-mail (including any attachments to it) is strictly
confidential and intended solely for the person or organisation to whom it
is addressed. It may contain privileged, confidential or sensitive
information. If you are not the intended recipient, you must not copy or
distribute it to any other person or take any action in reliance. If you
have received it in error, please notify your system manager and the
sender as soon as possible and then delete it from your system.
[1][IMG]

References

Visible links
1. https://www.plymouth.gov.uk/covid-19

Dear Plymouth Highways,

I refer to my FOI request 920206.

Your response fails to fully address my question, specifically Question 1. You have responded that you will look at the data should further investigations/audit be necessary (re-active) however I asked what monitoring is undertaken(pro-active).

Can you therefor clarify your response to Q1 further into what pro-active steps are undertaken to ensure there is no misuse. I find it hard to believe that at considerable cost to the Council Tax payers of Plymouth all Councillors are afforded an £1,800 per annum season ticket ( 17 wards with 3 councillors and 3 wards with 2 councillors) with a resulting annual assumed cost of £183,600 and that no proactive audit of usage is undertaken unless allegations of misuse are made.

Yours sincerely,

Paul Gulley

Plymouth Highways, Plymouth City Council

Information about Coronavirus (COVID-19): Find out about changes to all
services and how we are supporting residents and businesses. [1]Read our
Coronavirus (COVID-19) information

 

Thank you for contacting Plymouth City Council.

 

This is an automatic acknowledgment to confirm receipt of your email. We
will look to respond to your email, if applicable within 5 working days.

 

 

Alternatively you may find the information you are looking for online at
[2]www.plymouth.gov.uk/roadsandpavements.

 

If you are reporting an emergency that requires immediate attention,
please call us on (01752) 668000. An emergency on the highway is defined
as something that is very likely to present an imminent threat to life or
serious injury or serious damage to property.

 

Kind regards

 

Plymouth Highways
Plymouth City Council
Plymouth
PL1 0RZ

T +441752668000
E [email address]
[3]www.plymouth.gov.uk

 

 

 

 

 

IMPORTANT: This e-mail (including any attachments to it) is strictly
confidential and intended solely for the person or organisation to whom it
is addressed. It may contain privileged, confidential or sensitive
information. If you are not the intended recipient, you must not copy or
distribute it to any other person or take any action in reliance. If you
have received it in error, please notify your system manager and the
sender as soon as possible and then delete it from your system.
[4][IMG]

References

Visible links
1. https://www.plymouth.gov.uk/newsroom/mai...
2. http://www.plymouth.gov.uk/roadsandpavem...
3. http://www.plymouth.gov.uk/
4. https://www.plymouth.gov.uk/covid-19

Plymouth Highways, Plymouth City Council

1 Attachment

OFFICIAL

Dear Mr Gulley

 

Thank you for contacting Plymouth Highways

 

Please see the attached response regarding the questions you raised ….

 

If you wish to discuss these further please do not hesitate to contact us.

 

Plymouth Highways

 

 

 

 

 

IMPORTANT: This e-mail (including any attachments to it) is strictly
confidential and intended solely for the person or organisation to whom it
is addressed. It may contain privileged, confidential or sensitive
information. If you are not the intended recipient, you must not copy or
distribute it to any other person or take any action in reliance. If you
have received it in error, please notify your system manager and the
sender as soon as possible and then delete it from your system.

Dear Mr Stoneman

Further to your response, just for clarity the City Council is therefore in breach of its own policy (detailed in my initial request) by failing to undertake electronic monitoring. Am I correct in this regard?

Yours sincerely,

Paul Gulley

PCC, Plymouth City Council

SELF SERVICE

Secure, simple and convenient

Dear Mr Gulley

Thank you for contacting us.  This is to acknowledge that we have received
your Complaint for Highways & Parking Services. 

We aim to investigate and respond to complaints within 10 working days,
but you will appreciate that Council services are affected by Coronavirus
and we are unable to confirm how quickly we can respond to you at this
stage. Please be assured that we have a record of your complaint and will
get back to you as soon as we can, you do not need to contact us again
about the same issue. 

For the latest information and advice in relation to the Coronavirus
(COVID-19) in Plymouth see the [1]latest information update. 

Further information about our services is available on www.plymouth.gov.uk

Kind regards

Plymouth City Council
 

 

Online services Social media Contact us

[2]Make an online [5][IMG][6][IMG] Phone 01752 668000
payment
[7]View all social media [8]View full contact
-------------------- channels directory

Useful links ------------------------ [9]View all council office
locations
[3]Find your
Councillor [10][IMG]

[4]Plymouth Newsroom

show quoted sections

PCC, Plymouth City Council

SELF SERVICE

Secure, simple and convenient

 Dear Mr Gulley

Please accept my apologies that you have felt it necessary to contact us
to raise a complaint and for any inconvenience this matter has caused you.
I have investigated your complaint and confirm my response below:

Thank you for your email

I can confirm that all vehicles are monitored either by the use of Car
Park Access Card or ANPR as per our Enforcement Policy, the actions
undertaken by the officers are determined by both our local policy and/or
the Traffic Management Act,

I trust this addresses the matter, however, if you are unhappy with this
outcome you have the option to escalate the complaint for further
consideration by a Plymouth City Council Senior Manager within 28 days
using the link below.  You will be asked to enter your case reference
number and state the reason why you are unhappy with this outcome.

[1]Stage 2 Complaint.

Yours sincerely

Darren Stoneman

Plymouth City Council

Online services Social media Contact us

[2]Make an online [5][IMG][6][IMG] Phone 01752 668000
payment
[7]View all social media [8]View full contact
-------------------- channels directory

Useful links ------------------------ [9]View all council office
locations
[3]Find your
Councillor [10][IMG]

[4]Plymouth Newsroom

show quoted sections

Dear Plymouth City Council,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of Plymouth City Council's handling of my FOI request 'Councillor car parking passes'.

Mr Stoneman has failed to address the issue I raised previously just suggesting that cars useage is being monitored by ANPR and cards.

I appreciate that your ANPR and car park barriers will monitor the entry and exit of vehicles from a car park and/or will ascertain whether a valid permit allows a vehicle to park in a given parking space. As the Councillors have been afforded these privileges I accept that nothing untoward would be found HOWEVER what I am trying to ascertain is what action does the City Council undertake to ensure that the councillors vehicle was legitimately being used at that time for case work/attendance at meetings (ie monitoring that resources (ie car park passes) are being used legitimately. So if, say for example, a Councillor were to visit Plymouth Hoe/Barbican of a weekend or use the Theatre Royal car park but not enter the Council House does the City Council check with the Councillor the reason why their permit was being used to check the legitimacy they were on case work.

[ GIVE DETAILS ABOUT YOUR COMPLAINT HERE ]

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/c...

Yours faithfully,

Paul Gulley

Stoneman, Darren, Plymouth City Council

OFFICIAL

Good  Morning Mr Gulley

 

Thank you for your follow up email dated 22^nd July 2020, I apologise if
my response failed to answer your questions sufficiently.

 

The parking permits provided to Elected Members of Plymouth City Council
as outlined to you previously are provided to afford Councillors with
access to parking facilities whilst undertaking council duties.

 

The use of these permits is managed using an ANPR system, all Civil
Enforcement Officers are trained to deal with these permits accordingly
and will afford the permit holder the privileges associated with the
permit, unless the vehicle is not parked in accordance with any
restriction in the chosen location,  i.e Parking on Double Yellow Lines,
or outside of a marked bay. Should a Civil Enforcement Officer or Civil
Enforcement Supervisor have cause for concern over the use of any permit,
this is referred to the Civil Enforcement Manager, who in turn will refer
to either the monitoring officer or Devon Audit Partnership (Fraud) for
investigation.

 

To date no such incidents have been reported or escalated.

 

Again as outlined in our previous responses, due to the wide ranging and
unpredictability of any councillors workload, no Civil Enforcement Officer
would approach a Ward Councillor to enquire as to the nature of their
visit as this would be an inefficient use of the Civil Enforcement Officer
powers. The process outlined above would be followed on such incidents,
again a retrospective audit would not serve any useful purpose as
councillor visits can be to any number of locations, which would not have
access control systems to allow for audit and privacy legislation would
prevent the access to that data, should it not be held on a Plymouth City
Council data network.

 

We undertake no further actions or investigations outside of those listed
above or unless a third party report of suspected misuse is made.

 

I have not referred this for an internal FOI review as the follow up
question was referred to me as a standalone enquiry and not through our
FOI process. I apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused and
again I am more than happy to discuss this with you, if you would like to
call me on 01752304194

 

Kind Regards

 

Darren

 

 

Darren Stoneman
Civil Enforcement Manager
Street Services
Plymouth City Council
Ballard House, West Hoe Road
Plymouth
PL1 3BJ

T +441752304194
E [1][email address]

[2]www.plymouth.gov.uk

 

IMPORTANT: This e-mail (including any attachments to it) is strictly
confidential and intended solely for the person or organisation to whom it
is addressed. It may contain privileged, confidential or sensitive
information. If you are not the intended recipient, you must not copy or
distribute it to any other person or take any action in reliance. If you
have received it in error, please notify your system manager and the
sender as soon as possible and then delete it from your system.

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. http://www.plymouth.gov.uk/