Was WCC Officer Gilchrist too busy to deliver conference talk on PIP or is he loosing his bottle due to a rising pile of stiff legal challenges?

Updated Sat 6th March…

The BBC announced today that Westminster City Council’s parking department is facing an EU Probe over “alleged contractual irregularities” – a fact that I first reported back on the 7th of December last year.  However, the beeb go on to link that investigation with news today that Alastair Gilchrist, the leading officer behind Westminster Council’s hugely unpopular M/C parking tax scheme, was “too busy” to deliver a key speech at a parking services conference to explain the merits of the PIP ‘Framework Agreement’ on which the scheme is based.

As is often the case with these sorts of things though, there is more to these events than has come to light as yet. Not least of which is that there is even bigger news to report since the BBC were told by the EU Commission that they are at the “first stage of our infringement proceedings” – and that If they are content with the UK government reply, they will close the case – but if not, “we move to the second stage of infringement proceedings”.

Now, I have just heard a whisper from a usually well informed and reliable source in the land of Brussel Sprouts that the EU Commissioners may not be as satisfied by the explanations they have had so far that procurement procedures were fine and dandy – as promoters of the scheme might hope. And, although nothing is confirmed as yet, I gather that it could even be the case that that sleeves are being rolled up in readiness to open the second phase of EU investigations…

Anyway, for those who are new to these events, PIP, aka Partnerships In Parking is a consortium of London councils which was set up and led by Westminster’s officer Gilchrist and Cabinet Member, Cllr, Danny Chalkley who have both featured in a number of recent posts here and on other motorcycling blogs here in the UK and France.

However, I am wondering if Gilchrist really was too busy, as he told the BBC, or if he might be loosing his bottle to espouse the virtues of a contractual arrangement that is the focus for a rising pile of legal challenges and an investigation by the EU commissioners. Oh, and lest we forget, there is also that matter of a Fraud allegation and potential investigations that may be on Gilchrist’s mind as well.

Currently I have no way of determining whether Gilchrist was too busy, so I will not indulge in idle speculation at this stage. Nevertheless, it does seem like an unfortunate coincidence of happenings in the hectic life of this would-be M/C parking tax pioneer to say the least. Anyway, all I can say for the moment regarding this officer who I have witnessed acting in bullish fashion in the past is this. Oh dear!

Westminster’s top dog Colin Barrow leads Tory Cllrs who want a ‘Magna Carta for localism’ but is this good for the people or good for them?

News is breaking today that top Tory Cllrs are making their final push to get a  ’Magna Carta for localism‘ embedded in the Conservatives pre-election manifesto.

This could be very good news for UK riders in my view but not in a way that Cllr Barrow would like it. It is only fair to assume that many conservative councillors and MPs are in favour of a ‘localist’ emphasis – on the basis that it will help ensure that policy decisions are made in the best interests of people where they have greatest impact – namely at local level. But, and I have to say it’s a very big but in my view, there is often a very big gap between the real motives that politicians have for increasing political power at local level, and the seemingly well meant theories that can reassure us that everything they plan will be as lovely as it can be.

The last time I spoke to Barrow was before an exceptionally well attended full council meeting in which the ‘experimental’ motorbike parking charges/tax scheme was to be reviewed. He told me that his officers (led no doubt by Alastair Gilchrist ‘this is not a revenue raising exercise’ ) said that Westminster had ‘problems’ with meeting demand for bike parking in the borough. I told him that there was a simple solution to all these ‘problems’ and that is to look at what all comparable cities do. Throughout the EU and most of the developed world, local authorities recognise the invaluable positive role that scooters and motorcycles play in modern towns and cities – and do not see riders as a potential target for new taxes. Very sensibly and rightly, most transport authorities outside the UK allow riders to park without extra charges in the abundance of places they can use without causing inconvenience to anyone or cost to the council. Barrow looked nonplussed at my suggestion and could find nothing to say apart from “Oh, I see” Not quite true of course because it was clear to me that neither he nor his officers had bothered looking for ’solutions’ that didn’t involve creating a new tax.

Now though, in addition to various other challenges ahead for Barrow he may have a new and real problem. His fellow top Tory Councillors and key parliamentarians may start taking a very dim view of his council’s plans to pioneer a brand new local tax – to ’solve’ a bike parking ‘problem’ that doesn’t exist in any other world city. The real problem for Barrow and us all is that Westminster council has always led the way in screwing all the money they can, from any group of road users they can, in the form of parking ‘management’ and highly profitable privatised enforcement. But if the new Tory Magna Carter ends up being seen as a charter for councillors to impose more localised taxes, and especially on vulnerable road users in the form of PTW riders, it may not seem quite as attractive to the electorate as it’s promoters hope. This latest development of a new ‘Magna Carter’ and controversial measures for enforcement also begs other questions. Not least important of these concerns the way Cllr Barrow will be seen by his fellow politicians and the great British public. Will he be hailed as a ‘people power’ Baron or slide into disfavour as a greedy King John?

Westminster begins fightback against motorbike parking tax protesters by replacing defaced signs

Last night, Crossroads Rider broke the news that Westminster council will press ahead with trying to make their controversial motorcycle parking tax a permanent feature in the centre of London. But I can now report that the council have begun their fightback against protesters by replacing defaced signs. As you can see from the pictures, a team of contractors has already been dispatched to take down signs that are defaced as this invalidates the council’s rights to enforce their new bike parking charge scheme. The council’s contractor Verrus can only make money for themselves and the council from the new scheme if motorbike and scooter riders pay-by-phone each day to park anywhere on public roads in the City of Westminster. It is said however that revenues dropped significantly  after the council admitted that their parking enforcement contractors are not entitled to issue Penalty Charge Notices PCNs in locations where parts of the scheme’s signs had become illegible.

Now, of course, I cannot and will not condone acts of protest that could be construed as vandalism. But I am not convinced that this latest move by the council will prove to be decisive in drawing this row over new parking fees to a sustainable conclusion.

Westminster decide to make bike parking tax scheme permanent – opponents say “Let battle commence!”

Cabinet member for transport Cllr Danny Chalkley (right) has just told me by email that he has made his decision regarding the trial of a controversial new motorbike parking tax in Westminster. And the decision is to uphold his officer’s recommendations led by Alastair Gilchrist (left) to make the scheme permanent – so he has authorised the officers to draw up  traffic orders for a permanent scheme . However, I have already had heard opponents of the scheme suggesting that this is far from the end of this saga. Chris Hodder of the BMF says. “This is further proof that democracy is failing in Westminster as thousands of people have objected to this ill-conceive and unnecessary scheme, but Westminster City Council have ridden roughshod over them.” He says then adds a warning. “But I don’t see any signs that opposition and protest is about to stop anytime soon”.

And now I have just had the chairman of the No To Bike Parking Tax opposition group, Warren Djanogly call to say that in their view this is a long way from being the end of their campaign against the scheme that has been running for over a year already. His message is simple but clear. “Let battle commence” he says. All I’ll say for now is that I am disappointed by this decision but I am not surprised – and I am also sure that this is not the end but the start of a new chapter in this story…