Ealing Council is to bring in-house parking enforcement across the borough as it ditches provider Serco to its own Greener Ealing (GEL) from 1 April 2024.
The news was announced at the council’s cabinet meeting last night (7 December 2022) that its in-house Greener Ealing which currently provides waste, recycling and grounds maintenance services will be expanding its range of services.
Councillor Deirdre Costigan, cabinet member for climate action, said: “By having parking enforcement and waste collection services managed under one roof we can improve access for refuse removal, speed up roadworks and generally assist to de-clutter the street environment.”
Councillor Costigan added: “Parking is an important service to residents and this new service will be keeping traffic moving, making roads safer, reducing air pollution, ensuring that there are adequate parking spaces on high streets, and that residents can park as near as possible to their homes.”
Kevin O’Leary, GEL’s interim managing director, said: “The GEL Board is delighted that Ealing Council is satisfied with progress on the core environmental services contract and welcomes any opportunities to consider the delivery of additional services for Ealing.”
Ealing Liberal Democrat Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Gary Malcolm told EALING.NEWS: “Liberal Democrats say that Ealing Council has had a real problem with many of its contractors and so bringing them in house is a way to have more control but it is more evidence that the Council has failed again to manage another contractor (Amey for waste collection, tree pruning companies etc).”
Councillor Malcolm added: “Given that Greener Ealing Ltd has never managed a parking enforcement company there is a risk that the migration will not run smoothly. I am glad that the Council agreed with the Liberal Democrats that the Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee should be involved in the migration from Serco to the new contractor, Greener Ealing Ltd to ensure the process can be monitored.”
In a tweet, council leader Councillor Peter Mason said: “It’s official. Tonight @EalingCouncil agreed to end our outsourced parking enforcement contract with SERCO, and to bring it back under our direct control. Good news for our residents & businesses, for better enforcement of our pavements & roads, and for public sector workers.”
It’s official.
Tonight @EalingCouncil agreed to end our outsourced parking enforcement contract with SERCO, and to bring it back under our direct control.
Good news for our residents & businesses, for better enforcement of our pavements & roads, and for public sector workers. pic.twitter.com/A4PHjH90CL
— Peter Mason (@_petermason) December 7, 2022
Councillor Mason added: “Park illegally on our roads and pavements = get fined. Pleased to see our stepped up enforcement action with @ealingMPS & @ealingparking having impact. More coming soon. Including big news on increased enforcement. P.s. – the money raised is paying for bike hangars.”
🚫⛔️Park illegally on our roads and pavements = get fined.
Pleased to see our stepped up enforcement action with @ealingMPS & @ealingparking having impact.
More coming soon. Including big news on increased enforcement.
P.s. – the money raised is paying for bike hangars. https://t.co/BkWW2YsaYS
— Peter Mason (@_petermason) December 7, 2022
Neil Reynolds, leader of Ealing Greens told EALING.NEWS: “It is welcome the council has finally taken parking enforcement in-house. Hopefully this will lead to action on illegal parking, which at best is inconsiderate and can be very dangerous to other road users.”
Mr Reynolds added: “In a separate tweet the leader of the council also appeared to suggest that extra money raised would go on bike hangars. As income from fines is nearly £10 million year, it will be interesting if this means the rollout of secure bike bike parking will commence. The council has installed none since the May elections.”
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