National news NEPP publishes third operations report The North Essex Parking Partnership (NEPP) has published its latest Operational Report, Part 3: January to March 2019. The drive for setting up this report is to improve the publics understanding of what NEPP delivers on a daily basis and to give people more up-to-date information about its service. This is the third and final Operational Report, including the NEPPs Annual Report 2018/19. You can read it at bit.ly/NEPPreport3 Round-up of stories affecting the profession across the UK All change at the top Prime Minister Boris Johnsons cabinet reshuffle has seen several of the BPAs parliamentary contacts replaced. In the Department for Transport, Grant Shapps has been appointed as the new Secretary of State for Transport, replacing Chris Portsmouth Blue Badge prosecutions Five motorists prosecuted by Portsmouth City Council for misusing Blue Badges to gain free parking have been ordered to pay a total of 2,499, including fines, court costs and surcharges. In all five cases, which went to court during May, the Blue Badge displayed belonged to other people and was used in their absence. Among those sent to court were three students who had used a badge to park closer to home or the University of Portsmouth. Councillor Lynne Stagg, cabinet member for traffic and transportation at Portsmouth City Council, said: It is disappointing to learn that in all of these cases, the badge used belonged to a family member. Abuse of this kind affects the everyday lives of genuinely disabled users and cannot be tolerated, no matter what the circumstances are. Green enforcement in Richmond Additional civil enforcement officers (CEOs) are to be recruited to help administer Richmond Councils parking and anti-idling rules. An extra 18 officers will be deployed around the boroughs growing number of controlled parking zones, as well as at six level crossings and outside schools. Alexander Ehmann, chair of Richmond Councils Transport and Air Quality Committee, said: We are serious about improving air quality. Our new CEOs will be focusing their efforts around areas of the borough we believe can benefit most from their efforts. Grayling. Chris Heaton-Harris replaces Michael Ellis as Minister of State for Transport, alongside George Freeman. Elsewhere, Robert Jenrick, who was Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, has been appointed as the new Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government. Esther McVey has been appointed Minister of State at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and will also attend Cabinet. Rishi Sunak, who was Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at MHCLG and who worked very closely with the BPA on the Parking (Code of Practice) Act has been appointed as the new Chief Secretary to the Treasury attending Cabinet. Luke Hall is now Parliamentary UnderSecretary for MHCLG. Andrew Pester, BPA chief executive, said: We look forward to meeting newly appointed ministers and continuing our discussions for a code of practice that will bring greater consistency and fairness. This is a great opportunity to inform decision-makers and develop new relationships. New 20 note to be issued in 2020 The Bank of England is set to issue the new 20 polymer note in early 2020. The 20 note accounts for more than 60 per cent of all banknotes in circulation so the new note launch will be the biggest challenge yet. Sarah John, the Banks chief cashier, said: The parking sector is critical to our success in introducing a new note. The ability of the parking network to accept payments made with the new 20 notes is key to ensuring that the public experiences a smooth transition to the new notes. It is important that as many publicfacing ticket-vending machines as possible are adapted to accept the new notes from issue day or shortly thereafter. If you havent done so already, please contact your equipment manufacturer to enable the required upgrades. The new 20 note will be printed on polymer, as with the current 5 and 10 notes. These are much harder to counterfeit than their paper equivalents and last longer in circulation. The note will feature the artist JMW Turner, and will include his self-portrait, painted in 1799, and one of his most eminent paintings, The Fighting Temeraire. The Bank has yet to announce when the current paper 20 note will be withdrawn from circulation but will give at least three months notice to the public and industry. The Bank is also working on the launch of the new polymer 50 note, featuring the scientist Alan Turing. The new 50 note is expected to enter circulation in 2021. More information can be found at bankofengland.co.uk/banknotes/polymerbanknotes or you can email cashindustry. enquiries@bankofengland.co.uk 8 britishparking.co.uk PN Sep19 pp08-09 News.indd 8 22/08/2019 11:44