FOI/EIR 25/26-537-Parking Enforcement Report 2021

Actions in response to report 'Parking Enforcement' 13 Sept 2021

Received 12 February 2026

I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act regarding the report titled "Parking Enforcement" (Agenda Item 06, Operational Services Committee, 13 September 2021), authored by the Director of Operations.
Specifically, I would like to know:
• What actions, if any, have been taken by East Cambridgeshire District Council in response to the recommendations and proposals outlined in the report?
• Has the Council reviewed the outcomes of the pilot scheme for community-based enforcement, as recommended, and what were the findings?
• Has there been any further engagement with Cambridgeshire Constabulary or other partners regarding parking enforcement since the report?
• Are there any subsequent reports, reviews, or updates available that detail progress or feedback since September 2021?
Please provide copies of relevant documents, correspondence, or meeting minutes that address these points.

Responded 10 March 2026

Details of actions taken by East Cambridgeshire District Council, further engagement with Cambridgeshire Constabulary or other partners regarding parking enforcement since the September 2021 and subsequent reports, reviews, or updates that detail progress or feedback since September 2021 are recorded in the minutes of the meetings listed below. These include updates from Cambridgeshire Police, budget amendment proposals related to Civil Parking Enforcement, corporate plan updates questions from members.
In addition, two emails were sent to all ECDC Councillors and all ECDC Parishes, the first on 30 October 2023 and a further update on 18 December 2023, please see attached.
The pilot scheme for community-based enforcement did not take place so a review of the outcomes was not required.
At the meeting held on 13 September 2021, Operational Services Committee referred agenda item 6 ‘Parking Enforcement’ up to Full Council on 21 October for decision. Minutes of the meeting of the Environment and Transport Committee held in the Council Chamber, The Grange,
The Full Council on 21 October 2021 received a presentation from Supt James Sutherland, Cambridgeshire Police and consider the referral-up from the Operational Services Committee (Agenda Item 13, Sept 2021). Council Minutes 21 Oct 2021
It was resolved:
i) that the Cambridgeshire Police Pilot Scheme to integrate community-based enforcement of speeding, anti-social and illegal parking under Section 38 of the Police and Crime Act 2017, be supported.
ii) that the proposals from Cambridgeshire Police to target identified ‘hot spots’ in the District with enhanced on-street enforcement in 2021/22 be supported.

iii) that Superintendent James Sutherland, Cambridgeshire Police (or representative), be invited to a future meeting to report on the evaluation of the pilot, when appropriate.
iv) that the Operational Services Committee be requested to review the effectiveness of the targeting of enforcement activity in ‘hot spots’ by October 2022.
v) that necessary support be provided to Cambridgeshire Police (when requested) to implement the above initiatives.
vi) that CSAS not be implemented in East Cambridgeshire (subject to a further review by end of 2022).
At the Full Council meeting held on 22nd February 2022 a Budget Amendment was presented which included the following proposal:
• Allocate £10,000 to investigate Civil Parking Enforcement options. Council Minutes 22 Feb 2022
At the Full council meeting held on 14th July 2022 under the Corporate Plan 2021-2023 (updated) agenda item, the following corporate action was included:
• Encourage the Police led pilot scheme to reduce anti-social parking across the district and provide communications support when required. Council Minutes
At the Full council meeting held on 20 October 2022, an update on the development of a new police service volunteer role of Road Safety Officer, to include parking enforcement powers, was received from Superintendent James Sutherland. Council Minutes
At the Full Council meeting held on 21 February 2023 a Budget Amendment was presented which included the following proposal:
• To fund the initial capital (£500,000) and then on-going revenue costs to implement Civil Parking Enforcement within the District (£40,000 in 2024/25). Council Minutes 210223
At the Full Council meeting held on 25 May 2023 under the Questions from Members agenda item a question relating to this was asked:
• Question to the Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group from Cllr Vellacott. Council Minutes 25 May 2023
At the Full Council meeting held on 13 July 2023 under the Questions from Members agenda item a question relating to this was asked:
vii) Question to the Chair of the Operational Services Committee from Cllr Mary Wade
and under the Corporate Plan agenda item the following the following corporate action was included:
• Support Cambridgeshire Constabulary’s Road Safety Police Volunteer scheme. Council Minutes
At the Full Council meeting held on 19 October 2023 under the Questions from Members agenda item a question relating to this was asked:
• Question to the Leader from Cllr Lucius Vellacott. Council Minutes
At the Full Council meeting held on 20 February 2024 a Budget Amendment was presented which included the following proposal
• To fund the initial capital cost (£600,000) and then on-going revenue costs to implement Civil Parking Enforcement (CPE) within the District (£40,000 in 2025/26 and future years) (Capital cost to be funded £400,000 from CIL and £200,000 from a revenue contribution). Council Minutes

At the Full Council meeting held on 25 July 2024 under the Questions from Members agenda item a question relating to this was asked:
• Question from Cllr Christine Whelan to the Leader of the Council
and under the Corporate Plan agenda item the following the following corporate action was included:
• Continue to support Cambridgeshire Constabulary’s Road Safety Police Volunteer scheme. Council Minutes
At the Full Council meeting held on 25 February 2025 a Budget Amendment was presented which included the following proposal:
• To fund the initial capital cost (£600,000) and then on-going revenue costs to implement Civil Parking Enforcement within the District (£40,000 in 2026/27 and future years). (Capital cost to be funded from a revenue contribution). Council Minutes
At the Full Council meeting held on 22 May 2025 under the Questions from Members agenda item a question relating to this was asked:
1) Question from Cllr Mary Wade to Cllr Anna Bailey. Council Minutes
At the Full Council meeting held on 18 September 2025 this matter was referred to under the Corporate Plan agenda item. Council Minutes
At the Full Council meeting held on 24 February 2026 a Budget Amendment was presented which included the following proposal
• To fund the initial capital cost (£600,000) and then ongoing revenue costs to implement Civil Parking Enforcement within the District (£40,000 in 2027/28 and future years) (Capital cost to be funded from Surplus Savings Reserve). Minutes not yet published, but meeting papers and live stream are available - Full Council 24/02/2026 | East Cambridgeshire District Council

Emails:

Sent: 18 December 2023 09:31 To: Council Members Parish Councils (All) Subject: RE: East Cambridgeshire Road Safety Volunteer Scheme Update
Dear all,
Cambridgeshire Constabulary’s Change Board met at the end of November and Superintendent Sutherland has provided the following update:
An agreement was reached that a pilot would be explored to establish the Road Safety Police Support Volunteer (RSPSV) role but that initially their remit (and delegated powers) be limited to road-safety issues, i.e. speeding and dangerous parking. Should the pilot be successful I can resubmit proposals for expanding their role (and powers) which can include parking enforcement.
Further meetings have been set up with Police Support Volunteer PSV co-ordinator and the Specials lead as utilising some Specials who are not currently operational does open various deployment possibilities as they retain full powers (including all road traffic powers). The aim is to launch the pilot in Spring 2024.
Kind regards,
 

Sent: Monday, October 30, 2023 3:05 PM To: Council Members Parish Councils (All) Subject: East Cambridgeshire Road Safety Volunteer Scheme Update
Dear all,
To address road safety and parking issues across the district, East Cambridgeshire District Council has been working with Cambridgeshire Constabulary to develop a new police service volunteer role of Road Safety Officer.
The volunteer Road Safety Officer role would be focussed on improving safety, especially regarding speed, and would include parking enforcement within its remit. The volunteers would have a range of powers including the ability to enforce parking infringements, speeding enforcement, and potentially also some powers regarding mobile phone usage and the wearing of seatbelts (without the need to pull over vehicles).
A significant issue has been the need for the potential volunteers to receive a level of vetting similar to that required for police officers (due to the access to secure radios and ICT equipment). Due to the huge numbers of applicants for the national police Uplift Programme, and the need to prioritise the vetting of new officers and re-vetting
of existing officers, the project experienced some delay, but the Uplift Programme and the vetting associated with that finished earlier this year.
Since then, the Police have amended the proposals to launch the Road Safety Volunteer Scheme using Special Constables. As these Constables are already vetted, hold the legal powers required and are already trained in elements such as conflict de-escalation, this will speed up implementation. The intention is to build a Special Constable team then use this team to train and support the Road Safety Police Volunteers.
The proposals for the introduction of the Road Safety Volunteer roles are being presented to the Cambridgeshire Constabulary’s November Change Board, a further update will be provided following the meeting.
Kind regards,