Improvements suggested over parking meters

May 11 2011 by Kaiya Marjoribanks, Stirling Observer Wednesday

BETTER collection procedures are being suggested for emptying Stirling’s parking meters.

Stirling Council’s governance and audit committee were updated on an audit of the system.

It found that the frequency of collections from some ticket machines could be improved, with some containing more cash than was covered for by insurance.

Officials said: “Although all ticket machines should be regularly emptied, 39 per cent are emptied only once during the eight-weekly collection schedule.

“Testing showed the £500 insurance limit for cash held in ticket machine cash boxes was breached 37 times – three per cent of the time – during the period October to December 2010, with income varying between £503 and £1286.

“There is a risk that the service may continue to breach insurance limits unless there is formal monitoring and reporting of collections over £500 and regular review of the eight-weekly collection schedule.”

However, the report did say that in general the system had got better in recently years. It added: “As a result of our audit and review we consider the car parking income collection, reconciliation and banking service has improved significantly since our review in 2004, with the service continuing to review and make improvements."

“However, from our testing of records review, there is scope for further improvement and action to ensure procedures, duties and responsibilities are more clearly defined and the process is as robust as it can be.”