Parking laws shake-up may see councils share expertise

A SHAKE-UP of parking enforcement in North Yorkshire could get the go-ahead from the Government next month in a move that is set to save costs.

Talks have been held between North Yorkshire County Council, North Yorkshire Police and the borough and district councils about the extension of a scheme which leaves councils, not the police, responsible for dealing with most on-street parking offences.

Members of Harrogate Borough Council will, when they meet on Tuesday, be told details of the scheme, which would leave Harrogate Borough Council, which already operates a scheme in the town, also responsible for the scheme in the Craven and Selby areas.

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Scarborough Borough Council would provide the same service for Hambleton, Richmondshire and Ryedale.

Local authorities are currently responsible for off-street parking and this service would also be provided by Scarborough and Harrogate.

A report to next week’s meeting of Harrogate’s planning transport and economic development cabinet member committee said merging services would help cut costs at a time when local authorities are grappling with budget cuts.

“There are a number of operational efficiencies and economies of scale that can be achieved with a joint countrywide operation,” it said.

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“The most significant reductions in costs are achieved because there are lower staffing costs in terms of management and back office staff.”

The report said Harrogate expects to hear next month whether the Department of Transport has given the go-ahead for the Harrogate parking scheme to be extended to Selby and Craven. It is hoped that the scheme can be up and running by the end of May.

The report said keeping the service in Harrogate allowed the council the chance to run a service that was responsive to local needs and it would mean small efficiency savings for the local authority.