Ealing Council Waste Company Takes on Parking Enforcement
20 more staff have been taken on with late night patrols introduced
Cllrs Mason and Costigan with members of the new enforcement team
April 13, 2024
New parking enforcement arrangements are now in place in Ealing Borough with the company responsible for waste collection in the borough taking over.
Greener Ealing Ltd (GEL), which is wholly owned and run by the council, has been given the contract despite having no previous experience in the area. The council announced it was ended the contract with SERCO last year after the company was hit by a series of strikes over pay leading to an interruption in enforcement and reduced revenue from fines.
The council says that an additional 20 enforcement officers have been employed by GEL to take action on a range of offences including pavement parking, parking in cycle lanes and other contraventions of the Highway Code. A new shift system will also see late night patrols up to 2am, concentrating on hot spots in Southall and Park Royal.
GEL has been given a 5-year contract with an option to extend for a further five years. The value per annum of the contract is estimated at £2.4 million. According to projections made in an Ealing Council report, GEL is expected to raise an extra £1,769,000 in revenue by giving out more parking tickets over the course of five years which will more than cover the cost of setting up the operation.
The projections on staff costs assume no increase because, although pay rates will be higher because of payment of the London Living Wage , a reduced use of agency staff will keep overall costs steady. The option to bring the service completely in-house and to be operated by staff directly employed by the council was ruled out because that would have increased employment costs by over £4million over five years.
It was decided to not put the new contract out to tender despite possible technological gains that could have been brought by a new external provider, as the Greener Ealing option provided ‘the best return on investment’.
Peter Mason, leader of Ealing Council and Councillor Deirdre Costigan, deputy leader and cabinet member for climate action, visited the GEL headquarters at Greenford Depot on Monday, 8 April, to meet some of the enforcement team.
He said, “Most road users play by the rules, but there are still far too many that engage in inconsiderate, dangerous and antisocial behaviour.
“Parking on pavements in our high streets damages business trade and is dangerous for pedestrians. Illegally parking across cycle lanes makes it incredibly dangerous for cyclists and other road users.
“Our message is very simple. Break the rules and you will face consequences. That is why we have taken back control of parking enforcement, bringing it back under the council and are significantly increasing our enforcement activity.”
Councillor Deirdre Costigan said, “With 20 extra enforcement officers, new late-night patrols in our 7 towns and a base in Acton to add to the one in Greenford, I’m confident our decision to bring the parking service back in-house was the right decision for residents and for safety on our streets.
“The new service will take a firm but fair approach to enforcement, with officers wearing body cameras to ensure fines are correctly issued. New GPS enabled computerised handsets and better enforcement of resident-only parking rules will help ensure we are doing everything we can to keep Ealing moving and to reduce air pollution from traffic congestion.”
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