Reading council is set to join forces with Oxford to punish parking rule breaches as its current enforcement contractor wants to pull out.
Reading council is teaming up with Oxfordshire to tackle parking rule breaches, as their current contractor, Trellint, plans to exit the market.
Trellint’s staff have been issuing fines for overstaying tickets and illegal parking, using scanning machines throughout Reading. In the 2023/24 financial year, the council made surpluses of over £2 million from car parks and pay and display tickets.
However, enforcement has faced challenges, with parking wardens striking three times over pay disputes with Modaxo, Trellint’s parent company. The strikes occurred in October, January, and February, supported by the Unite union.
Though Trellint’s contract lasts until October 2027, the company is eager to terminate it early. The council discussed finding a new contractor with Oxfordshire County Council at a recent policy committee meeting.
Phil Grant, the parking services manager, noted that Trellint wants to exit the contract quickly. Cllr John Ennis, lead councillor for transport, welcomed the collaboration with Oxford to secure a reliable service, stating, “This is an opportunity for us to commission a decent service.”
Opposition leader Rob White expressed relief at the prospect of ending the contract, citing the strikes and low pay as significant issues. He questioned whether the council could handle enforcement in-house, to which Cllr Ennis replied that while they have considered it, budget constraints prevent this option.
The committee unanimously agreed on September 17 to procure a new parking enforcement contractor with Oxfordshire, which oversees areas like Oxford, Henley, Banbury, and Bicester.
James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter
