Hampshire County Council takes control on-street

Responsibility for on-street parking services across Hampshire has returned to the county council. From 1 April the management of on-street parking services, including parking enforcement, new parking controls and residents’ parking permits became the direct responsibility of Hampshire County Council.

The county already manages on-street parking services within the district and borough authority areas of Fareham, Gosport, New Forest and Test Valley and, at the beginning of next month, this responsibility will expand to cover Basingstoke, Eastleigh, East Hampshire, Havant, Hart and Rushmoor.

Winchester will follow suit from 1 October 2023, although requests for new or amended parking controls in the Winchester district will be dealt with by the county council from 1 April.

The county council’s executive lead member for universal services, Cllr Nick Adams-King, said: “Historically, on-street parking management has been delegated to local district and borough councils to carry out on our behalf. However, from 2020, this role has been transferring back to the county council.

“At the start of this financial year, as well as managing on-street parking enforcement, we will also be responsible for the introduction of new parking controls such as yellow line and disabled parking bays, and overseeing the existing residential parking schemes, including the issuing of new permits across all parts of Hampshire.”

Since 1 April 2023, the county council’s parking services provider NSL has taken over responsibility for parking enforcement. Customers will continue to be able to pay for parking using the same to go through the standard appeals process.

Current mayor Joanne Anderson said an internal audit of parking services will pick up issues arising from the disclosure. She said: “The cabinet and I have been working hard since my election as mayor in May 2021 to change the culture of the council to one that is fully focussed on delivering best value for its residents.

“We cannot change what happened in the past but it is vital that we learn from it and make sure we are as transparent as possible when it comes to decision-making, with the correct governance and audit procedures in place.”

Lead commissioner Mike Cunningham said: “The information released today shines a light on the poor practices that have been all too common in Liverpool City Council. However, it is information that the public have a right to know and, although it has taken too long for this information to be shared, we welcome the transparent approach the council is now taking to publishing it.” methods as they do currently.

The commissioners were appointed to oversee parts of the local authority in 2021 after the inspection report found allegations of bullying and intimidation. Last August, it was announced that government intervention would be expanded to include governance and financial decision-making following another critical report.

All new on-street residents’ parking permits have become digital, rather than paper-based, although current permits will remain valid until the date of their expiry. All new permits issued by Hampshire County Council will need to be applied for via MiPermit, which will allow residents to apply through an app, online, or over the telephone. Residents themselves will be able to activate visitor permits and make changes, such as updating their vehicle details, and changes will show immediately on the enforcement officers handheld terminals. For 2023-24 residents parking permit charges will remain at the same price as currently charged by each district and borough council.

Responsibility for car parks and offstreet parking will remain with the district and borough councils except for Durngate Car Park in Winchester which is already managed by the county council.