First-time offenders in Sevenoaks get warnings rather than fines

Sevenoaks District Council has issued warnings rather than penalty charge notices (PCNs) to almost 800 first-time offenders for minor parking contraventions since a change of parking policy in May. The Kent council said its more lenient approach has reduced administration costs and improved the customer experience.

A council spokeswoman told Parking Review that previously PCNs issued for first-time minor infringements tended to be cancelled before going to appeal. “On this basis the general effect on income that supports parking management has been cost neutral,” she said. “The council has benefited in reducing the processing of appeals and costs associated with this work, which do not arise with the warnings. The public benefit from a more efficient council and a reduced likelihood of PCN for a minor infringement or oversight.”

The council is monitoring the warnings issued to ensure that repeat offenders are not exploiting the new system, said the spokeswoman. “The scheme has also proved very popular with the council’s civil enforcement officers, who are often approached by the public who compliment them on the warnings scheme. They also find it gives them greater discretion, where they can issue a warning for very minor infringements, such as a wheel just out of a bay, also they are less likely to attract criticism for being insensitive or over enthusiastic.”

Parking cabinet member, Matthew Dickins, said: “Customer service comes first at Sevenoaks District Council. Like any reasonable parking provider we were overturning penalty charge notices for simple, honest mistakes such as an upside down ticket or a slight overhang on a bay. However, processing these appeals took time and ultimately cost taxpayers’ money, so we set about reviewing our approach.

“Our priorities were improving the customer experience and saving resources whilst maintaining an effective enforcement regime to ensure robust action continues to be taken against offenders who park antisocially, dangerously or who flagrantly abuse the rules. All of these have been achieved by adopting this common sense policy.”