Conservative councillors complained it could give officers power to make changes to local parking schemes with “no council input”, reports Grace Howarth, Local Democracy Reporter

A sign warning of a controlled parking zone in operation

Councillors have forced a review of a decision on Enfield Council’s new controlled parking zone (CPZ) strategy following complaints wording in a report was “unclear” and the language “untidy”.

Alessandro Georgiou, leader of the opposition Conservative group, led the call-in request at an overview and scrutiny committee meeting last night (Monday 19th).

He said the council’s new approach to CPZs needed to be “referred back” for review by the Labour administration because it would give officers the power to make changes to parking schemes with “no council input” which he said would be a “harm to residents”.

Cllr Georgiou also said it was “morally unjust” to introduce CPZs to “create a mode shift” and added that the report’s claim that CPZs “facilitate new provision of housing” was an “inaccurate statement”.

The report listed times CPZs around the borough would be in operation and, when presenting his position, Cllr Georgiou clarified his issues were not with the “schedule proposed”.

The Tory councillor said: “It’s about the contents of the report. It’s clear, and this is not a political point, the Mayor of London and this council have an ‘anti-car agenda’, that’s their policy, they have an electoral mandate for that, although I in principle disagree, that’s fine.

“What’s happened is that it’s now seeped into menial policy which has nothing to do with modal shift, which is my problem.”

Cllr Georgiou ended by saying he’d “keep calling in reports” until they were “more honest and better written”.

In response, officers present at the meeting reiterated the clarifications made in response to his complaints. While Cllr Georgiou appeared satisfied with officer responses, he said the original report needed amending to better reflect them.

Doug Wilkinson, the council’s director of environment and street scenes; David Taylor, head of highways; as well as Susan Erbil, cabinet member for licensing, planning and regulatory services; were present to answer questions and appeared satisfied to refer back the report and seek amendments.

In response to Cllr Georgiou’s complaints, it was clarified the report sought to give the power to make changes to the director of environment and street scene “in consultation” with the cabinet member for environment.

Officers said to “implement individual CPZs” was “not delegated to the director of environment and street scenes” and would be made by the cabinet member following a consultation.

In response to Cllr Georgiou’s issue with modal shifts, it was stated CPZs had been used “for many years to influence mode of travel” and residents would be given the opportunity to “weigh up” advantages and disadvantages in the “consultation process”.

New residential developments are sometimes refused because of the risk of vehicles “overspilling” and affecting current residents and parking controls such as CPZs “mitigate” this risk, removing it as a reason for refusal.

Following further discussion councillors recommended the officers also review whether there was a conflict between the times around parking in controlled areas and places of worship, as well as review the strategy around making requests for CPZs and how the programme was being enforced.

Councillors on the committee unanimously agreed to refer the decision back to better reflect officer responses and review recommendations.

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