Parking Permits in Hillsborough.

[Penistone999 10]

Hmm. It does make interesting reading. How about this bit:

 

4.17 A small number of respondents did make suggestions to ‘scrap the scheme

completely’ and a consistent number also expressed their anger at the

decision to increase the price of permits. The scheme brief / scope did

indicate that these issues would not be part of the review, however due to

the number of specific comments received relating to these issues it was

considered worthwhile documenting these views within the report.

 

So in other words, contrary to what Planner1 has claimed in the past, even if everybody had responded by saying they wanted the scheme scrapped altogether, this was never an option.

 

The council choose to ignore public opinion if it dosnt fit with their policy ,also there is no financial gain for the council by listening to the public and scrapping the scheme.

[Planner1 428]

Hmm. It does make interesting reading. How about this bit:

 

4.17 A small number of respondents did make suggestions to ‘scrap the scheme

completely’ and a consistent number also expressed their anger at the

decision to increase the price of permits. The scheme brief / scope did

indicate that these issues would not be part of the review, however due to

the number of specific comments received relating to these issues it was

considered worthwhile documenting these views within the report.

 

So in other words, contrary to what Planner1 has claimed in the past, even if everybody had responded by saying they wanted the scheme scrapped altogether, this was never an option.

 

I think what you need to consider is that the author of the report was clearly given a narrow brief to review the operation of the current scheme and ascertain whether any changes were needed to it, including expanding it. This is perfectly understandable, as the scheme had only recently been put in after extensive consultation and modification of the original proposal after feedback from local people on exactly where they wanted a scheme provided. When a scheme has been put into the areas where people wanted it, would you really expect them to be consulting a short time later and asking them whether they wanted it removing?

 

Irrespective of what questions were or were not asked, there was space on the response form for people to make any comments they wanted, including requests for the scheme to be removed if that is what they wanted.

 

The author says that issues were raised regarding permit costs and correctly says this was not within the scope of the review. Also, a small number of people said they wanted the scheme scrapped. The author explicitly included both of these types of comments in the report because they clearly felt that it was important for the decision makers (ie Councillors) to understand all local opinions before taking a decision on next steps.

 

That is entirely consistent with the position I have always maintained, that if a large number of people asked for a scheme to be scrapped, officers would report it and the decision makers would give this due consideration.

 

The facts are there. There was no large number of people asking for the scheme to be removed, but even the small number who asked for this had their views represented to the decision makers.

 

The officers only make recommendations and advise on the feedback they have received, it's the Councilors who make the decisions on these things.

 

---------- Post added 22-04-2013 at 00:33 ----------

 

The council choose to ignore public opinion if it dosnt fit with their policy ,also there is no financial gain for the council by listening to the public and scrapping the scheme.

Only a small number wanted it scrapped.

 

The vast majority who responded did not ask for this.

 

So, the decision makers most certainly did take into account public opinion and went along with what most people who gave feedback wanted.

 

Exactly what more could you want?

[Penistone999 10]

Only a small number wanted it scrapped.

 

The vast majority who responded did not ask for this.

 

So, the decision makers most certainly did take into account public opinion and went along with what most people who gave feedback wanted.

 

Exactly what more could you want?

 

Did they clearly tell the council they WANTED the permit scheme or did they say they wernt bothered either way and the council chose to take that as the residents wanted the scheme and ploughed on regardless. ?

[Parvo 13]

I know this leaves me in danger of being strung up by the neck on a tree in Hillsborough park....but I wanted the permit system......and I'm happy with it....its cheaper than getting parking tickets and I actually stand a cat in hells chance of parking within 200 yards of my home....................

 

note to self...having lit blue touch paper - stand well back.....................

[Planner1 428]

Did they clearly tell the council they WANTED the permit scheme or did they say they wernt bothered either way and the council chose to take that as the residents wanted the scheme and ploughed on regardless. ?

Remember that the respondents were answering specific questions on the review of an operating scheme.

 

There was space on the form for them to make any other comments they wanted to make, including whether they wanted the scheme to continue or not.

 

Those few people who chose to say they wanted the scheme removed had their views passed on to the decision makers. The Council did not draw any inference from anything that was not said.

[Onlywayis S6 10]

Where do people get the idea that the public road in front of their house belongs to them and only they should be allowed to park there?

[Litotes 63]

Remember that the respondents were answering specific questions on the review of an operating scheme.

 

There was space on the form for them to make any other comments they wanted to make, including whether they wanted the scheme to continue or not.

 

Those few people who chose to say they wanted the scheme removed had their views passed on to the decision makers. The Council did not draw any inference from anything that was not said.

 

How do you know this?

Are you being given priviledged information or are you just inferring this from how it should be done?

[Penistone999 10]

Remember that the respondents were answering specific questions on the review of an operating scheme.

 

There was space on the form for them to make any other comments they wanted to make, including whether they wanted the scheme to continue or not.

 

Those few people who chose to say they wanted the scheme removed had their views passed on to the decision makers. The Council did not draw any inference from anything that was not said.

 

Why wasnt there a specific Question asking if they wanted the scheme or not. ? Surely this is the fundamental Question to ask the residents .

[Planner1 428]

Why wasnt there a specific Question asking if they wanted the scheme or not. ? Surely this is the fundamental Question to ask the residents .

They asked the local people whether they wanted a scheme in the initial consultation before the scheme was introduced.

 

The consultation we are discussing was a review of the operation of the scheme which was introduced, so why would they ask whether a scheme was wanted or not? This consultation was about whether people thought the scheme had made a difference and how it might be adjusted to better suit local needs.

 

If an overwhelming number of people had been dissatisfied with the scheme, and wanted it removed, they would have said so. The fact is that only a small number of people said this.

 

---------- Post added 22-04-2013 at 23:56 ----------

 

How do you know this?

Are you being given priviledged information or are you just inferring this from how it should be done?

I read the report which went to the Cabinet Highways Committee and I've spoken directly to the author of the report.

 

Council officers who write such reports don't infer anything from non-responses. They report the feedback they receive and make recommendations to the decision makers.

[andygardener 10]

 

If an overwhelming number of people had been dissatisfied with the scheme, and wanted it removed, they would have said so. The fact is that only a small number of people said this.

 

You have said multiple times that you only ever get a handfull of responses. I know this is due to the way you communicate, you'll say it isn't but the fact remains you only ever get a handfull of responses.

 

Why not change the way you do things. If 51% of a street ask you to put in parking restrictions then start looking into it. Until that point consider your input not needed. Simple effective democracy. Then where there are parking problems you will have them clamouring at your door, where you're not wanted you won't need to go. Everyones happy.

[Planner1 428]

You have said multiple times that you only ever get a handfull of responses. I know this is due to the way you communicate, you'll say it isn't but the fact remains you only ever get a handfull of responses.

 

Why not change the way you do things. If 51% of a street ask you to put in parking restrictions then start looking into it. Until that point consider your input not needed. Simple effective democracy. Then where there are parking problems you will have them clamouring at your door, where you're not wanted you won't need to go. Everyones happy.

The democracy angle is served at the ballot box.

 

The elected Councillors take the decisions, including which potential schemes get taken forward for consultation. Consultation informs their decisions. Consultation is not usually in itself a ballot, it is just a way of giving the decision makers a flavour of local opinion.

 

The Councillors are content with the way that consultation is carried out. If they were not, they'd require it to be done differently.

 

If you are not happy with the way schemes are selected or progressed I suggest you raise it with your Councillors.

[andygardener 10]

The democracy angle is served at the ballot box.

 

The elected Councillors take the decisions, including which potential schemes get taken forward for consultation. Consultation informs their decisions. Consultation is not usually in itself a ballot, it is just a way of giving the decision makers a flavour of local opinion.

 

The Councillors are content with the way that consultation is carried out. If they were not, they'd require it to be done differently.

 

If you are not happy with the way schemes are selected or progressed I suggest you raise it with your Councillors.

 

Well maybe some independents will get elected to break the cozy "you plebs have no actual say" cycle and what the people who live in the areas think and want will actually matter, rather than be a flavour to be ignored. I really hope Sheffield has it in us to do it, because crushed under labour and their alliance with your kind it's getting more third world by the day.