I want to get to the bottom of the cones. Who placed them etc? Are they still there?
Scenario 1
The council placed or condones the placement of these cones(the latter is unlikely as it's a highways matter i.e. you cannot just place barriers on the carriageway willy-nilly.
The contravention occurred because you were parked 'partially outside white markings', so it's nothing to do with the next bay, it's all about where you were. So, was the length of what remained of your bay 4.5m in length(this being the minimum mandated length of a bay of this type)? If not, then IMO the placing of cones by or with the condonation of the council was not correct in the first place: they should have coned off the whole bay. And then you have the under whose authority and with what lawful authority arguments.
Scenario 2
The cones were placed by a third party without the council's permission. This is an offence under the Highways Act and IMO the CEO should have removed them(after establishing the situation) and invited you to move back, not issue a PCN which would IMO have the effect of unlawfully enriching the council!
