Prayer of annulment

Assembly members voted to accept a proposed hike in car parking fines, on 26 June 2012.

In April, Regional Development Minister Danny Kennedy said he intended to raise the current charge from £60 to £90 but would offer a 50% reduction if paid within 14 days.

The plans were passed despite opposition from the regional development committee who had brought forward a 'prayer of annulment' in an attempt to overturn the increase.

Chairman Jimmy Spratt said committee members did not agree on the policy merits of proposed changes and felt further efficiencies could be realised.

In response, Mr Kennedy said the penalty increase was to act as a deterrent to those parking illegally and he denied parking attendants were "over-zealous" in their approach.

He said the fine increase would reduce congestion, improve safety and accessibility and increase turnover in parking spaces.

The minister said that if members refused to accept the changes, there would have been "severe consequences" which would have caused him and his department to identify efficiencies that would "potentially impact frontline activities" such as grass-cutting and road repairs.

He said he would agree to look at the merits of a dual layer approach to charging which would mean low impact offences, such as a few minutes over time, would attract a lesser penalty than those who parked in blue badge bays or bus lanes.

He also said he wanted to introduce electronic payment for parking.

The prayer of annulment was voted down, which in turn meant the proposed rise would go ahead.