Zinkin worried council is ignoring residents' concerns over CPZs

The opposition leader called on the Labour administration to “reflect on what on earth we’re doing” following negative feedback about parking schemes reports Joe Ives, Local Democracy Reporter

A permit parking sign on a residential street

Barnet Council needs to reconsider “what on earth” it’s doing with its parking policies, according to the local authority’s opposition leader.

The comments were made by Peter Zinkin, leader of the Conservative group at the council, at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday (21st).

Members had been discussing the next steps for the controversial Underhill ‘experimental’ controlled parking zone (CPZ) , after the statutory six-month consultation period for the scheme ended on 14th June.

Cllr Zinkin expressed concern that Labour-led local authority would only be paying lip service to the overwhelmingly negative public feedback the experimental CPZ had received before making its final decision.

“I do think that we need to reflect on what on earth we’re doing with CPZs”, said Cllr Zinkin, adding that the council would only be “pretending that the consultation is a real consultation” if residents’ concerns were largely ignored going forward.

He acknowledged that CPZs, like the one in Underhill, may be necessary. Regardless, the opposition leader said that the council needs to be more honest with residents on the weight given to their feedback.

Cllr Zinkin warned that: “There may be really reasons for what we do – but the way we do it makes residents believe that they are not listened to.” The issue “really worries” him, he added.

Alan Schneiderman, cabinet member for environment and climate change, responded, pointing to the council’s track record of listening to residents, as evidenced by last month’s decision to review hours of the CPZ in Mays Lane.

The review came after a petition against the CPZ, titled “Stop Barnet Council from killing trade due to parking charges”, received over 1,300 signatures.

Cllr Schneiderman added that public consultations are “not a referendum” – and that the council can make a different choice if needed.

Craig Miller, the executive director of environment at the local authority said: “This is a complex item to deal with and it’s very difficult to get something that satisfies all parties. We acknowledge that.”

The senior officer explained that the council had already agreed to reassess its parking policy, including its approach to introducing CPZs, and would decide “whether or not that continues to be right for Barnet”.

With the consultation period concluded, the council is now set to assess its options for the Underhill CPZ going forward. These include making the current arrangement permanent, starting a “new experimental process” – or removing the parking controls completely.

Cllr Schneiderman said the local authority would be analysing all the data and public responses gathered over the past six months before making a decision by “the end of December” this year.

This cabinet’s discussion followed a deputation made by Underhill Residents Group and local resident Gina Theodorou in March.

Speaking on Tuesday, council leader Barry Rawlings said he’d be happy to provide further written answers to Theodorou’s deputation and meet with her at a later date “to look at the details”.

“That’s not a formal recommendation but I’m making that as a public promise,” Cllr Rawlings added.

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