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Scooters plan for parking wardens in bid to cut costs
PARKING wardens could soon be scooting around Calderdale on two wheels in a bid to catch motorists breaking the law.
They could also be given luncheon and gift vouchers to improve their productivity.
It follows a decision by Calderdale Council Cabinet to invite a firm based in Hertfordshire to give a quotation to take over the management of local parking enforcement.
Vinci Park Services Ltd manages car parks throughout the country including a multi-storey in Mayfair London, one at the entrance to Gatwick Airport and new parking zones in Hull.
And wardens in Edinburgh and Glasgow have been using scooters for several years.
Economy and environment director Ian Gray told councillors that Vinci hoped to reduce costs by cutting the number of staff.
"This reduction is possible due to a combination of patrol reassessments and the ability to deploy staff more effectively using motor scooters", he said.
In a report Mr Gray said: "Vinci has indicated that there will be less down time such as returning to base for breaks or lunch and proposes using incentives such as lunch and gift vouchers," said Mr Gray in a report.
Councillors agreed to privatise parking enforcement in 2008 in the hope of cutting costs and improving efficiency. The new company could take over in February 2010.
The council has struggled to recruit parking wardens and income from charges and fines has fallen in the recession.
Of the 22 posts in the parking enforcement team, 12 are vacant and two senior civil enforcement officers are on long-term sick leave.
About 1,200 parking fines have been issued each month this year and the annual amount recovered from fines has dropped from 551,752 to 428,225.
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Weather for Halifax
Thursday 09 February 2012
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