PLANS for a big increase in parking fines across East Ayrshire are due to go before councillors this week.

A report to East Ayrshire Council’s cabinet says councillors should back a bid to increase the maximum fine from a ‘penalty charge notice’ (PCN) from £60 to £100.

If approved it would be the first increase in PCN rates in East Ayrshire for 20 years – and the first since the introduction of ‘decriminalised parking enforcement’, which handed the power to enforce parking rule breaches from the police to councils.

Motorists who are hit with a fine at present get a discount to £30 if they pay the PCN within 14 days – though if the fine isn’t paid until a ‘charge certificate’ is served, that increases to £90.

Under the new proposals the discount for early payment would see the higher PCN rate reduced from £100 to £50 if paid within 14 days – but would rise to £150 if a charge certificate is served.

A report to this week’s cabinet meeting by Kevin Braidwood, head of the Ayrshire Roads Alliance, also presents an option for a slightly lower increase – to £80, or £40 if paid within 14 days – but says that all the Scottish councils who have already increased their PCN rates, or are in the process of doing so, have opted for the new £100 maximum.

The report will be considered by members of the council’s cabinet this Thursday, June 29.