|
GIFTS AND TIME OFF FOR TRAFFIC WARDENS WITH MOST TICKETS
TRAFFIC wardens who hand out the most tickets are being rewarded with £50 lunches, the afternoon off work and free gifts – all paid for by the taxpayer.
The “best” wardens, who slapped the most penalty charges on cars, get a buffet voucher and are allowed to go home early.
And parking attendants who generate the most cash in a month from fines are also given a custom-made pen.
The council bonus scheme gets round traffic warden and parking regulations, which prohibit councils handing wardens cash bonuses.
But it is not against the rules for a council to reward staff with gifts, as long as they do not involve direct payment.
Last night, furious critics slammed the move as an “immoral” money-making exercise, which will encourage wardens to “blitz” the vulnerable for the extra perks.
Last night Mark Wallace, campaigns director for the TaxPayers’ Alliance, branded it “misguided”.
He said: “The last thing taxpayers need is their money being used to encourage traffic wardens to be as predatory as possible.”
Kieran Battles, from the campaign group Keep Parking Free, said: “It’s not an incentive for traffic wardens to do a more effective job, it’s an incentive for them to book more people.
“What it’s saying is ‘blitz it when people are vulnerable, then take the afternoon off’. It’s morally, and politically wrong.”
The bonus scheme, by Bristol City Council, was revealed in a leaked briefing, dated August 24, to the council’s civil enforcement officers.
It reads: “The winning team each month will have some lunch laid on for them by caterers and leave early on that day.
“The team scores are not solely based on the amount of penalty charge notices issued, but also the amount that are paid.
“Also when comments and letters from departments and members of the public are received. The team scores are based on the average for the overall team. Not solely on individuals. A pen will be given to the highest-scoring individual.”
Department for Communities and Local Government figures show Bristol City Council netted £8.5million from motorists last year in parking services.
This included £1,294,447 just from tickets. Last night, Bristol City Council defended the “modest” scheme.
A spokeswoman said: “The scheme is aimed at improving the quality of the service. The team is rewarded for compliments, courtesy and punctuality.
“It is not designed to increase the number of tickets issued.
“The finger buffet lunch – £50 for the entire group – held at our operational base, is a working lunch where issues such as team morale and service improvements are discussed.
“It is designed to encourage all staff to be consistent in their decisions and to issue tickets only where they feel confident the rules apply.”
|
Login
Register
FAQ
