Decision details

Proposed Decision :

As Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport I agree to:

(i)            the use of ANPR enforcement of bus priority measures for Kent Thameside and Dover Fastrack services;  and

(ii)          to support the wider use of ANPR enforcement of bus priority measures county wide, allowing officers to approve enforcement of new schemes.

Background:

The Transport Act 2000, with the introduction of new statutory instruments in 2005, allows the enforcement of bus infrastructure through camera technology by approved Local Authorities outside the Greater London area. The primary objective of a camera enforcement system is to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the network by deterring motorists from contravening restrictions, which may or may not require traffic regulation orders, and detecting those who do.  This is not a profit-making exercise but a way of improving sustainable travel.  Any surplus money should be reinvested to make improvements to roads and transport in the County. 

Options:

The preferred model for enforcement involves Borough and District Councils carrying out the back-office function of issuing penalty charge notices (PCN’s) and taking the necessary payment.  The Borough and District Councils will keep enough of the fines received to cover their costs, with any surplus being passed to KCC for reinvestment into the bus service.  The fines will be in line with the National standards for contravening bus priority measures.

 How the proposed decision meets the objectives of ‘Increasing Opportunities, Improving Outcomes: Kent County Council’s Strategic Statement (2015-2020)’:

The ANPR scheme particularly supports Strategic Outcome 2 “Kent communities feel the benefits of economic growth by being in work, healthy and enjoying a good quality of life”.  The ANPR scheme aims to reduce congestion, by providing more reliable Fastrack journey times and improved public transport links and accessibility. This in turn will support Kent business and housing growth and encourage economic activity to benefit the local and wider communities.

Decision:

As Cabinet Member for Highways & Transport I give approval for;

the use of ANPR enforcement of bus priority measures for Kent Thameside and Dover Fastrack services and

to support the wider use of ANPR enforcement of bus priority measures county wide, allowing officers to approve enforcement of new schemes