Where can I find the answer to this question? Options

[newres]

Question to be answered by the Executive Member for Planning and Highways submitted by Councillor Tony Vickers:

"Why was no reminder letter sent to residents of West Fields Newbury (Zone W1) to renew their parking permits after the first year of operation of the scheme?"


From: Executive

Thursday, 23 March 2006 at 6.30pm

in the Council Chamber, Council Offices,
Market Street, Newbury

Thanks in advance.

[Squelchy]

Why was no reminder letter sent to residents of West Fields Newbury (Zone W1) to renew their parking permits after the first year of operation of the scheme

Why on earth should they?

Anyone too stupid not to be able to count to 365 from the day they got one shouldn't get another. The permit should be then offered to someone else.

21st century writ large.....bleat bleat bleat...why won't the council/government/whatever do something for me? I'll just sit here doing sweet f.a. and wait to be given stuff. No need to stir myself. No need to think or take responsibility, just wait for others to do it.

[Simon Kirby]

Why on earth should they?

Anyone too stupid not to be able to count to 365 from the day they got one shouldn't get another. The permit should be then offered to someone else.

21st century writ large.....bleat bleat bleat...why won't the council/government/whatever do something for me? I'll just sit here doing sweet f.a. and wait to be given stuff. No need to stir myself. No need to think or take responsibility, just wait for others to do it.

I don't understand the hostility, it seems to me pretty reasonable that the issuing authority should be sending reminders. Reminder letters is quite an expensive process, but it's the simplest job in the world to automate the process and issue reminders by e-mail with a link for re-application and payment.

It could also be easier to find the right section on the WBC web site - searching for "parking permit application" doesn't turn up the right link, and even searching for "residents parking" which is the title of the page you want doesn't present the page in the "Key Results".

[Andy Capp]

I don't understand the hostility, it seems to me pretty reasonable that the issuing authority should be sending reminders. Reminder letters is quite an expensive process, but it's the simplest job in the world to automate the process and issue reminders by e-mail with a link for re-application and payment.

It could also be easier to find the right section on the WBC web site - searching for "parking permit application" doesn't turn up the right link, and even searching for "residents parking" which is the title of the page you want doesn't present the page in the "Key Results".

Yes, it is quite customary for annual renewals to have a reminder. Clearly the WBC don't agree. All a part of the service.

[Exhausted]

Yes, it is quite customary for annual renewals to have a reminder. Clearly the WBC don't agree. All a part of the service.

The same applies with the Mot test. Vosa, quite rightly do not send out a reminder unless by choice and at a cost you request they do so.

I do not see why the council, WBC in this case, should send out reminders for which I through my council tax have to pay (administration, paper, printing ink and postage). How do you remember all the birthdays and anniversaries in the friends and family. You note them in a diary. There must be space to note the parking permit expiry date.

WBC could ask the greenmeanies to knock on your door to remind you but that might be doing them out of a job if instead they are able to give you a fixed penalty.

As you don't know the answer and I assume were unaffected by the issue, can I suggest you have nothing of any value to add and are only trolling.

That was a legitimate reply to your question. Why wait seven years, festering away before you thought you might stir up a little dust. Fair enough though, parking is a favourite and always worth a new slant.

[Simon Kirby]

The same applies with the Mot test. Vosa, quite rightly do not send out a reminder unless by choice and at a cost you request they do so.

You get a reminder to buy your tax disc, and a reminder to renew your insurance, and I certainly get a reminder from my main dealer to service my car and have it MOT'd, so a reminder for a parking permit is hardly without precedent. To be honest I can't think of a single renewable commercial service that wouldn't send a reminder to invite repeat business - it's nothing but good commercial sense. It's only local government that would have such a dismissive attitude to its captive "customers".

You make an argument against reminders on the basis of cost, but the parking permit is not free so the residents are already covering the administration cost - twice over, because they also pay their council tax, but e-mail reminders cost virtually nothing so there's really no reason why WBC shouldn't send reminders, at least to those with access to e-mail.