Member benefits Hear, hear Sarah Greenslade, public affairs and communications officer, explains more about the BPAs political work and how you can get involved ear, hear! and Order, order! these are familiar cries in the House of Commons less so in the devolved nations chambers, where proceedings are, shall we say, less rowdy. These are the places where issues of the day are questioned, debated and scrutinised, and legislation is passed. Public affairs is essentially all about influencing policy. A key role of the BPA public affairs team is to help governments shape good public policy that benefits BPA members and, ultimately, the public. We are consistently supporting and influencing devolved nations and national government on a wide range of policy areas. The current focus is on: tackling pavement parking; persistent evaders; reducing emissions; digitising traffic regulation orders; and reviewing penalty charge notice levels. H See, hear, respond To be as effective as possible in this, we monitor all governments communications the debates, parliamentary questions, motions raised, and the passage of new legislation that impact on parking. When we see things of interest, we talk to and campaign with stakeholders, meet government officials, and write to MPs and ministers. We often work closely with government officials, as is the case with the powers to enforce moving traffic. Sometimes, members tell us what they are hearing through their networks, and we can take action accordingly to bring this to government attention, or use it in our communications with them. We are clear about what it is we want to achieve and why it is important, and we rely on our members to give us evidence and proof to back our recommendations or lobbying standpoint Your role We are clear about what it is we want to achieve and why it is important, and we rely on our members to give us evidence and 42 britishparking.co.uk PN May 2022 pp42-43 Member Benefits.indd 42 21/04/2022 11:49