Local authority news Manchesters new transport deal Greater Manchester will get new responsibilities for transport as part of the city-regions most significant devolution deal with government. The new Trailblazer Deal includes more influence on regional rail services to deliver a London-style integrated public transport system the Bee Network by 2030. The Bee Network aims to integrate bus, Metrolink, rail and cycle hire, with improved services, simpler fares and combined ticketing. Progress is already being made through bus franchising, with public control of the buses taking effect from September in Bolton, Wigan, and parts of Bury and Salford. Council writes off 7.2m in parking fines A council in east London has written off more than 7.2m in penalty charge notice (PCN) debt. Enforcement agents working for Newham Council have been unable to trace persistent evaders and drivers no longer living at their addresses. Uncollected debt built up over the years, deputy mayor James Asser said. Speaking at a cabinet meeting, Asser, who is also the cabinet member for environment and sustainable transport, said: [Over two years] we have written off various sums. It had built up over a large number of years it was structured in a way that existing debt was irrecoverable and was not just kept up in the books. Officers secure pay rise Parking enforcement officers across Hounslow have secured a 4k pay rise. Workers took two weeks of strike action in January, and a further month of action from 6 February until 5 March, followed by indefinite strike action. The workforce has now voted to accept the 18-month pay deal worth almost 18 per cent. Peterboroughs parking officer respect campaign Motorists and residents are being reminded to show respect for parking officers in Peterborough, as part of a campaign to crackdown on abusive incidents. The council is raising awareness about the dedicated work of its parking team, and the abuse they often face while working tirelessly to educate motorists on safe parking practices and protecting the public from dangerous parking. It comes after 21 serious cases of abuse were reported by parking officers last year, including physical attacks, spitting, and even death threats. One parking officer said: Once, I had 12 eggs thrown at me. I had to have a shower at work because the eggs were all in my hair. If we talked to people like they sometimes talk to us, we would get reported for it. As well as carrying out parking duties, the team will always look to help members of the public in distress. Earlier this year, four quick-thinking officers came to the rescue of a school pupil who had been struck by a vehicle. One officer said: Despite all these things we do, I normally get abuse shouted at me on average about three times a day. I have people spit if not at me, then in my vicinity at least once a week. I have been slapped once, and on one occasion someone rammed me with a bike they were riding. Adam Payton, the councils community safety neighbourhood manager parking, said: It is completely unacceptable that our parking officers, who are working hard to educate motorists across the city, continue to face abuse. We want to raise awareness of their work and what they have to put up with. They are working to keep this city safe and deserve to be treated with respect. 12 PN May 2023 pp12-13 LA News.indd 12 25/04/2023 11:17