BPA news Welcome: Isaac Occhipinti Isaac Occhipinti has joined the BPA as head of external affairs. He joins the BPA from Energy and Utilities Alliance, where he spent more than 15 years, first as head of external affairs then then as director of external affairs. Before that, he was business development manager for Birmingham Chamber of Commerce. He said: I am thrilled to be joining the BPA at such a pivotal time for the industry. I am relishing the challenge of understanding the needs of BPA members and how I can use my experience of working in the energy industry to help them further their interests. Its going to be a challenging year with an election looming, so it is important that I hit the ground running. I look forward to meeting members soon and the many BPA events scheduled for the remainder of this year. First in-person Healthcare group meeting this month The BPA is excited to be holding the first in-person Healthcare Interest group meeting since before the pandemic. The packed full-day agenda on 19 September includes an on-site visit around one of the Manchester Royal Infirmary parking campus locations, as well as speakers on sustainable transport and managing the parking needs of agile workers. There will also be valuable time to network over refreshments and lunch. See pages 32-33 and bit.ly/PNSept23HC Book your place at the Members Dinner The BPA invites you to the Members Dinner on 29 November, at the magnificent Drapers Hall in London. The evening will start with a sparkling drinks reception, followed by a three-course dinner and after-dinner speaker. To find out more, go to britishparking.co.uk/ BPA-Members-Dinner The Members Dinner is kindly sponsored by DCBL and Zatpark. Code call for evidence The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has published its Private Parking Code of Practice call for evidence (see pages 8-9). The BPA welcomes this important opportunity to provide evidence of the need for: The parking charge amount to deliver a sufficient deterrent to enable effective parking management A debt-recovery fee to enable a debt-resolution process and support vulnerable motorists. The government has asked that responses provide evidence to correct anything that is not right. The BPA is keen to gather data and present evidence to challenge the perception that the increase in keeper requests, seen as a proxy for parking charge notices (PCNs), demonstrates that the current system is not fit for purpose. The government has also made a number of assumptions in the call for evidence and has asked for information to remedy any incorrect ones. The BPA has prepared several surveys to gather information to correct these assumptions and to consolidate member evidence to answer the governments questions. One survey is aimed at landowners. It is really important that everybody responds to the BPA surveys and the call for evidence and we will be providing guidance to our members to help them do this, said Sara Roberts, head of Conformity Assessment Body transition. We are in the process of preparing another survey and will be following up with phone calls to ensure we reach everyone. We are also developing new resources to support members as best we can. To respond to the call for evidence, go to bit.ly/PNSept23PCC The BPAs supporting webinar for AOS members is at britishparking.co.uk/Past-Webinars Keep an eye on britishparking.co.uk/webinars for another webinar before the call for evidence closes. Park Mark awards for Total Parking and Middlesex Uni Total Parkings car park at Long Buckby train station has received the Park Mark award after demonstrating it has the highest standards. Colin Sproats, BPA area manager, said: I am delighted the team at Long Buckby has achieved the Park Mark award, demonstrating their hard work and commitment to providing a safe environment for users. Meanwhile, the Greyhound Hill car park at Middlesex University has successfully retained its Park Mark accreditation. Antony Powell, BPA area manager, said: The university is a long-term supporter of the scheme. This award once again demonstrates its great commitment to provide a safer parking environment for all members of staff and visitors. Rachel Baxter, director, Total Parking, and Colin Sproats, BPA area manager 44 PN Sept 2023 pp44-45 BPA news.indd 44 24/08/2023 11:12