The Cabinet meeting held on Tuesday 18 July 2023 discussed parking issues in Caxton Village, the procurement strategy for council insurance services, and the travel care minibus service. Decisions were made regarding the insurance tender and the travel care minibus procurement, while further investigation was agreed for the Caxton Village parking concerns.

Caxton Village Parking Problems

The Cabinet considered a petition regarding parking problems in Caxton Village, W12, which called for 24-hour resident and local business permit parking only, blue badge parking for permit holders only, and an increase in enforcement hours. Michael Rainsford, representing the Caxton Village Tenant Resident Association (CVTRA), presented the petition signed by 272 households. He highlighted issues with non-residents, particularly visitors to Westfield London and those attending events on Shepherd's Bush Green, using blue badge parking and contributing to congestion and litter. Rainsford noted that while Westfield London offers limited free blue badge parking, Caxton Village parking is not time-limited, making it a more attractive option for fraudulent use. He also pointed out that current surveys finish at 9 pm, missing the peak of late-night issues.

Bram Kent, Strategic Director of Environment at Hammersmith and Fulham Council, stated that the council is generally in support of the petition's aims. He proposed conducting a parking stress survey, including overnight monitoring, to gather data on resident versus visitor parking. Based on this data, a more targeted consultation on appropriate enforcement hours would be undertaken, rather than immediately implementing the petitioners' requested 24/7 restrictions.

Cabinet members discussed the challenges of enforcing blue badge regulations, with Councillor Andrew Jones expressing familiarity with McFarlane Road and inquiring about issues post-10 pm. Rainsford explained that the problems after 10 pm include delivery vehicles, Uber drivers, and people eating takeaways in their cars, leading to noise and litter. Councillor Rebecca Harvey asked about the duration of blue badge parking, and Rainsford indicated that blue badge vehicles often occupy spaces all day, with one leaving and another arriving, suggesting a mix of short and long stays. He also noted that genuine blue badge holders going to Westfield would likely park at Westfield due to its validation benefits.

The Cabinet also explored the possibility of increased plainclothes investigation into potential blue badge fraud. Officers acknowledged the difficulty in enforcement due to the nature of blue badge use, where the driver may be able-bodied but accompanied by a passenger with mobility issues. While validation of blue badges on the spot might not be feasible, officers could potentially check against databases. It was noted that the current volume of blue badge parking makes comprehensive policing uneconomic. The Cabinet agreed to the recommendations to complete a parking stress survey and undertake a parking consultation of residents regarding changes to parking hours. They also requested officers to explore further verification of blue badge usage.

Insurance Tender for 2024-2029

Councillor Rowan Rhee, Cabinet Member for Finance and Reform, presented the procurement strategy for purchasing insurance services across the council. The report outlined how the council will acquire a range of complex and niche insurance services in a cost-effective manner, ensuring appropriate coverage for identified risks. The recommendations in the report were agreed.

Travel Care Minibus Procurement Strategy

Councillor Alexsander, Cabinet Member for Children and Education, presented a report seeking approval to initiate the procurement process for travel care minibus services. The current contract expires in July 2024, necessitating the identification of a new provider or renewal of services. Councillor Alexsander highlighted the historical seriousness of issues with previous arrangements, including instances of tube-fed children overheating and autistic children running into streets, emphasizing the importance of ensuring such incidents do not reoccur. The Cabinet agreed to approve the report and commence the procurement process.