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Streets & Parking

What is civil parking enforcement?

Civil parking enforcement (CPE) is a legislative change that can be made by the Highways Authority, which would allow a number of on-street offences to be handled as a civil matter enforceable by the local authority, instead of the current criminal position where it can only be enforced by the police.

Steps towards civil parking enforcement

Recognising the benefits of CPE, Huntingdonshire District Council (HDC) gave approval to pursue at O&S (4 February 2021) and Cabinet (11 February 2021), which would see HDC fund on behalf of the county the needed remedial works (signs and lines) along with the ongoing costs of enforcement.

This position was supported by Cambridgeshire County Council (CCC) at the Highways and Transport Committee on 7 September 2021.

Recognising the wider benefits, CPE adoption is now being undertaken across Huntingdonshire, Fenland and South Cambridgeshire. Works, which include discussion with county around the details of the agreements, are continuing that will see the delivery of CPE in Huntingdonshire.

The achievable date of implementation has been reviewed by CCC based on their available resource and the need for CCC to confirm funding of a specific area in the project's delivery, which was formalised at the CCC Highways and Transport Committee on 6 December 2022.

The revised date for commencement of CPE in Huntingdonshire is October 2024.

"Whilst it is unfortunate that delays have occurred in the delivery of CPE, this project is something that HDC is actively pursuing and HDC officers will continue to work closely with county colleagues to ensure delivery of the project. We recognise the benefits as do our colleagues within the other local authority areas and it will be a great achievement for this in Cambridgeshire once delivered." - Executive Councillor for Leisure, Waste and Street Scene, Cllr Simone Taylor

Department for Transport (DfT) draft application

This is a DfT document submitted by CCC to form a civil enforcement area within the district. This document specifies the area enforcement will take place and confirm to the DfT the arrangements in place for managing the scheme.