‘What is going on?’ - Calls for an inquiry into Westminster Council’s parking operation

Published: 16 April 2010
by JAMIE WELHAM

CALLS for an inquiry into Westminster Council’s parking operation have reached fever pitch after a growing catalogue of high-profile financial and legal blunders.

Opposition leaders and parking campaigners have joined forces to demand an explanation for what they claim is systemic mismanagement by City Hall’s parking department that could cost millions of pounds to set straight.

In the past six months, the re-letting of the parking enforcement contract has been abandoned due to an oversight by lawyers, 100 CCTV cameras were switched-off for almost a year because of technical problems, and most recently the European parking giant ACPOA filed a £50million lawsuit against the council for acting “unlawfully and unfairly” during   the contract bidding process.

A letter from the Audit Commissioner made public this week reveals two further complaints about the parking department that have already cost more than £11,000. Paul Dimoldenberg, leader of the Westminster Labour group, has put down a motion for the next full council meeting on April 28 to call for the inquiry. 

Tim Kaufman, author of the influential parking blog nutsville.com, said: “Just like the iceberg which sank the Titanic, there are still mounting hidden costs to residents, visitors and traders in Westminster. The electorate need to start asking what on earth is going on.”

Dr Leith Penny, Westminster Council’s strategic director of city management, said: “Westminster is the biggest parking authority in the UK and our parking policies are fair, open and transparent and subject to high levels of scrutiny by independent scrutiny committees, elected councillors and the media. 

“Any surplus that we generate from parking has by law to be ploughed back into transport or highway projects that benefit our residents, businesses and visitors.”