Well they say Rome was not built in a day and its definitely true for the THCH! Below is the Service Delivery Committee`s new arrangements for the implementation of the Parking Control policy. In it they even give a response to my petition that was handed in back in November. 06 (I actually had a personal response to my petition and I will reply to this soon).
I must say congratulations to David Eatwell for implementing the new 10 Min's grace policy as hi lighted in Red in the statment policy down below. (I actually think this should be 15 Min's. Check my updated website next week for more info). Now some of the less unscrupulous ISTM operatives cannot hide in bushes or duck behind cars and clamp us while our backs our turned. Indeed they now have to photograph our cars first and come back after 10 Min's to clamp, if a parking ticket / permit not displayed after this time. Since this has been introduced I have personally not heard of any one being clamped in this estate. Now our family and friends can breathe a bit.
I'm also glad this has happened as its a victory for another 81 year old lady who lives on my estate. Upon signing my petition back in November 06, she requested we hi light this 10 Min`s rule at the next meeting, as one of her family was clamped as they came to pick her up. They were only in the ground floor flat a few minutes before they were clamped. ISTM were paid the release fee but this was a kick in the teeth and had ruined her day.
In the meeting I only spoke about this rule briefly before other people started agreeing with me and criticizing THCH for this non observed policy that was causing utmost misery to us East Enders. This alongside other people who have complained, made the THCH rethink their policy.
Its only a small victory but like I said before, Rome was not built in a day....
Report to: THCH Service Delivery Committee
8th February 2007
Report by: David Eatwell - Director of Housing
Subject: Parking Control - Briefing Paper
1. Summary
1.1. This report is to inform Service Delivery Committee of the new arrangements for the implementation of the Parking Control policy
2. Recommendations
2.1 That Service Delivery Committee notes the report
3. Background
THCH appointed IS Traffic Management to provide our parking control enforcement service in 2005. A contract was signed for an initial pilot period from July to September 2005 with an extension for 12 months to September 2006.
The contract signed was provided by IS Traffic Management and did not include a detailed specification of the service to be provided and included at least one clause considered to be particularly onerous upon THCH.
In June 2006 the Director of Housing commenced negotiations on the terms of a new contract addressing these concerns.
In July 2006 these negotiations expanded to include Poplar HARCA and East end Homes
as it was felt that a consortium agreement between the landlords and ISTM Group Ltd (previously IS Traffic Management) would offer both cost savings and improved management of the service. Toynbee Island Homes have subsequently indicated that they also wish to consider joining the agreement. THCH and ISTM Group signed the new agreement on 14th December 2006. It is anticipated that the other landlords will sign early in the new year.
4. The Consortium Agreement
The new agreement incorporates provisions on how the parking control service will be managed by a Management Group made up of senior officers from each of the landlord parties and the Contract Manager from ISTM Group. The Management Group will meet monthly and receive performance reports, consider service improvements and agree any variations to the service specification. The new agreement brings a new financial arrangement for the service. Originally THCH paid a fee to ISTM of £10 per week per location as well as paying for the provision of parking permits to residents at a rate of £10 ea. The new arrangements are that THCH will now only pay a reduced rate for the provision of permits to residents at a rate of £5 per permit holder. This offers a considerable saving to THCH.
4.3- The agreement also includes provisions which prevent ISTM Group from increasing the enforcement charges without the agreement of the Management Group and ties those charges to below the recommended maximum fee in the British Parking Association Code of Practice.The agreement is now more specific on the respective obligations of the parties to provide public liability insurance.The agreement allows other landlords to join the agreement with the approval of the Management Group and is also more balanced in allowing for the termination of the whole agreement or for parties to withdraw from the agreement. The agreement includes a detailed service specification that can be varied to fit the respective policies of landlord parties to the agreement, for example Public Service Permits are not valid on THCH estates but are permitted by Poplar HARCA and East end Homes.
The agreement includes a requirement that timed and dated photographs are taken at the time a parking offence is first observed and then again at least ten minutes later. This observation period is included to allow visitors time to contact the resident and arrange for a visitors permit or dispensation. THCH has a 10-minute observation period where other landlords have agreed 20minutes. This is because of the proximity of THCH estates to shopping areas where short-term casual unauthorised parking has proven to be a problem in the past.
The agreement allows for the Management Group to agree a new protocol for appeals. ISTM and THCH have agreed that a residents' representative can form part of an appeals panel and it is anticipated that this will be implemented once other landlords have formally signed the agreement. It is intended that JARB will be asked to appoint this representative. It is intended to put in place new arrangements for contractor vehicles who currently have to frequently contact THCH offices to refresh their permits. The agreement includes new provisions for dispute resolution although the intent of the agreement itself is to create a framework where disputes are resolved through discussion at an early stage.
5. Petition to Bethnal Green ARB
5.1 On 15th November2006 a petition was presented to Bethnal Green ARB asking for a change to the THCH parking control policy. This petition was signed by 25 persons, 23 of whom are THCH residents. All THCH resident petitioners are from the Mansford Estate.The petition asked that the policy be changed to allow a period of grace for those whose tax discs had expired and argued that THCH residents should not be subject to parking control enforcement. The petitioners received broad support from the Bethnal Green ARB however it is not recommended that the policy on tax discs be changed. Service Delivery Committee has considered this matter in both February and May 2006 and not chosen to amend the policy. The intent of the policy is two-fold: firstly to ensure consistency with the DVLA so that our residents are clear on what the rules are and secondly because requiring our residents to have up to date tax discs offers THCH assurance that cars parked on our land are both road worthy (MOT) and insured.
(Its amazing the amount of information that is available if you request it. Its a shame I was not aware of any of this when they introduced clamping.)
I must say congratulations to David Eatwell for implementing the new 10 Min's grace policy as hi lighted in Red in the statment policy down below. (I actually think this should be 15 Min's. Check my updated website next week for more info). Now some of the less unscrupulous ISTM operatives cannot hide in bushes or duck behind cars and clamp us while our backs our turned. Indeed they now have to photograph our cars first and come back after 10 Min's to clamp, if a parking ticket / permit not displayed after this time. Since this has been introduced I have personally not heard of any one being clamped in this estate. Now our family and friends can breathe a bit.
I'm also glad this has happened as its a victory for another 81 year old lady who lives on my estate. Upon signing my petition back in November 06, she requested we hi light this 10 Min`s rule at the next meeting, as one of her family was clamped as they came to pick her up. They were only in the ground floor flat a few minutes before they were clamped. ISTM were paid the release fee but this was a kick in the teeth and had ruined her day.
In the meeting I only spoke about this rule briefly before other people started agreeing with me and criticizing THCH for this non observed policy that was causing utmost misery to us East Enders. This alongside other people who have complained, made the THCH rethink their policy.
Its only a small victory but like I said before, Rome was not built in a day....
Report to: THCH Service Delivery Committee
8th February 2007
Report by: David Eatwell - Director of Housing
Subject: Parking Control - Briefing Paper
1. Summary
1.1. This report is to inform Service Delivery Committee of the new arrangements for the implementation of the Parking Control policy
2. Recommendations
2.1 That Service Delivery Committee notes the report
3. Background
THCH appointed IS Traffic Management to provide our parking control enforcement service in 2005. A contract was signed for an initial pilot period from July to September 2005 with an extension for 12 months to September 2006.
The contract signed was provided by IS Traffic Management and did not include a detailed specification of the service to be provided and included at least one clause considered to be particularly onerous upon THCH.
In June 2006 the Director of Housing commenced negotiations on the terms of a new contract addressing these concerns.
In July 2006 these negotiations expanded to include Poplar HARCA and East end Homes
as it was felt that a consortium agreement between the landlords and ISTM Group Ltd (previously IS Traffic Management) would offer both cost savings and improved management of the service. Toynbee Island Homes have subsequently indicated that they also wish to consider joining the agreement. THCH and ISTM Group signed the new agreement on 14th December 2006. It is anticipated that the other landlords will sign early in the new year.
4. The Consortium Agreement
The new agreement incorporates provisions on how the parking control service will be managed by a Management Group made up of senior officers from each of the landlord parties and the Contract Manager from ISTM Group. The Management Group will meet monthly and receive performance reports, consider service improvements and agree any variations to the service specification. The new agreement brings a new financial arrangement for the service. Originally THCH paid a fee to ISTM of £10 per week per location as well as paying for the provision of parking permits to residents at a rate of £10 ea. The new arrangements are that THCH will now only pay a reduced rate for the provision of permits to residents at a rate of £5 per permit holder. This offers a considerable saving to THCH.
4.3- The agreement also includes provisions which prevent ISTM Group from increasing the enforcement charges without the agreement of the Management Group and ties those charges to below the recommended maximum fee in the British Parking Association Code of Practice.The agreement is now more specific on the respective obligations of the parties to provide public liability insurance.The agreement allows other landlords to join the agreement with the approval of the Management Group and is also more balanced in allowing for the termination of the whole agreement or for parties to withdraw from the agreement. The agreement includes a detailed service specification that can be varied to fit the respective policies of landlord parties to the agreement, for example Public Service Permits are not valid on THCH estates but are permitted by Poplar HARCA and East end Homes.
The agreement includes a requirement that timed and dated photographs are taken at the time a parking offence is first observed and then again at least ten minutes later. This observation period is included to allow visitors time to contact the resident and arrange for a visitors permit or dispensation. THCH has a 10-minute observation period where other landlords have agreed 20minutes. This is because of the proximity of THCH estates to shopping areas where short-term casual unauthorised parking has proven to be a problem in the past.
The agreement allows for the Management Group to agree a new protocol for appeals. ISTM and THCH have agreed that a residents' representative can form part of an appeals panel and it is anticipated that this will be implemented once other landlords have formally signed the agreement. It is intended that JARB will be asked to appoint this representative. It is intended to put in place new arrangements for contractor vehicles who currently have to frequently contact THCH offices to refresh their permits. The agreement includes new provisions for dispute resolution although the intent of the agreement itself is to create a framework where disputes are resolved through discussion at an early stage.
5. Petition to Bethnal Green ARB
5.1 On 15th November2006 a petition was presented to Bethnal Green ARB asking for a change to the THCH parking control policy. This petition was signed by 25 persons, 23 of whom are THCH residents. All THCH resident petitioners are from the Mansford Estate.The petition asked that the policy be changed to allow a period of grace for those whose tax discs had expired and argued that THCH residents should not be subject to parking control enforcement. The petitioners received broad support from the Bethnal Green ARB however it is not recommended that the policy on tax discs be changed. Service Delivery Committee has considered this matter in both February and May 2006 and not chosen to amend the policy. The intent of the policy is two-fold: firstly to ensure consistency with the DVLA so that our residents are clear on what the rules are and secondly because requiring our residents to have up to date tax discs offers THCH assurance that cars parked on our land are both road worthy (MOT) and insured.
(Its amazing the amount of information that is available if you request it. Its a shame I was not aware of any of this when they introduced clamping.)
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