Five out of six North Ayrshire parking officers quit their posts
Five out of six parking enforcement officers have sensationally quit or are stepping down from their roles in North Ayrshire, it has been revealed - just six months after a much-vaunted new scheme was introduced.
Now top brass at North Ayrshire Council have launched an investigation after concerns were voiced about the employees' working conditions at a full council meeting on Wednesday.
Decriminalised Parking Enforcement (DPE) transfers the power to enforce almost all parking offences away from the police and on to the shoulders of the local authority. The fines since its introduction in April have brought in £85,750, but that figure is doubled for the money brought in by council-owned car parks.
READ MORE:Woman stuns with 'clever' travel hack to beat Ryanair's strict luggage policy
READ MORE:Scots husband and wife caught with sickening pics of people having sex with dead bodies and animals
North Coast Independent Councillor, Ian Murdoch, raised the issue at Wednesday’s meeting.
He said: “It is approaching six months since the introduction of Decriminalised Parking Enforcement. How many Parking Enforcement Officers have left or handed their notice in by the date of this meeting?”
Cllr Tony Gurney, Cabinet Member for Green Environment and Economy, said: “Four Parking Enforcement Officers have left and one has just handed in his notice. Three new Parking Enforcement Officers have been recruited and have commenced employment with a further officer due to commence training on September 24. A further job advert is being issued to fill the remaining vacancy.”
Cllr Murdoch then responded: “Is the Cabinet minister concerned that five out of six officers have left or are leaving within the first six months of the scheme?
“Can he please provide an assurance that measures will be introduced to improve working conditions for parking enforcement officers from now on.
“It has been alleged that there have been concerns they have no dedicated facilities and to get dried and get warm etc with no dedicated facilities to get a break.
"It is also alleged they have one vehicle between six officers to travel across North Ayrshire.”
Cllr Gurney added: “I have heard these issues before, I would be wary of setting one particular reason why people have left. One person retired, one person went back to university, one person simply didn't like working outside and that relates to the question on getting dry.
“All of our officers have been given lists of council buildings where they can go in the local area where they are working to use their facilities to get dried.
“In terms of vehicles, most of these officers work in town centres and it is not considered necessary for vehicles to be supplied - they are supposed to be walking, not driving.”
Council Chief Executive, Craig Hatton, then intervened and said: “Staff wellbeing is very close to my heart and a really important matter and I am more than happy to enter into discussion with Cllr Murdoch to discuss his concerns and understand these a little bit more.
“They are certainly somewhat different that I would expect across our workforce. I would invite you to have a conversation with me.”
Don't miss the latest Ayrshire headlines – sign up to our free daily newsletter