Issue - meetings

This report considers a proposal to make a formal link between the cost of daily visitor permits across the borough and the cost of bus fares in Greater London.  The report also considers a proposal to increase the maximum value of refunds on parking permits that are returned or cancelled, from one third to one half, reflecting the reduction in associated administrative costs following the widespread introduction of virtual permits.

Cabinet RESOLVED to:

(1)      Consult parking account holders on a recommendation to formally link and align the cost of daily visitor permits to bus fares set by Transport for London (TfL); charges for daily visitor permits would then directly align with any future price changes made by TfL to the cost of bus fares.

(2)      Consult parking account holders on a recommendation to increase the maximum refund value for all parking permits that are cancelled, from the current entitlement of up to one third of the value of the permit to up to half of the remaining value of the permit.

(3)      Delegate authority to the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment, in consultation with the Lead Member of the Environment:

(a)      to consider the outcome of the consultation responses in relation to the proposals set out in (1) and (2) above; and

(b)      if he thinks fit to do so, to proceed thereafter with the statutory consultation and notification process in respect of those proposals; and

(c)       after consideration of the responses to this statutory consultation and notification process, if he thinks it fit to do so, to implement the proposed changes to the daily visitor parking permits and permit refunds; and

(d)      to amend current Traffic Management Orders to implement the proposals set out in (1) and (2) above.

Councillor Krupa Sheth, Cabinet Member for the Environment, introduced the report which outlined a proposal to formally link and align costs of daily visitor permits to bus fare set by Transport for London (TfL).  The link to changes in bus fares would, ensure that there was no price incentive to travel by private vehicle rather than use public transport, in support of the objectives in the Council’s Long Term Transport Strategy.  Other benefits linked to the proposal included the impact on air quality as part of the climate emergency agenda.  The report further recommended an increase to the maximum value of refunds for permits that were cancelled, up from a third to a half of the cost, as administration costs had reduced following the introduction of virtual permits.

It was RESOLVED to:

(1)     Consult parking account holders on a recommendation to formally link and align the cost of daily visitor permits to bus fares set by Transport for London (TfL); charges for daily visitor permits would then directly align with any future price changes made by TfL to the cost of bus fares.

(2)     Consult parking account holders on a recommendation to increase the maximum refund value for all parking permits that are cancelled, from the current entitlement of up to one third of the value of the permit to up to half of the remaining value of the permit.

(3)     Delegate authority to the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment, in consultation with the Lead Member of the Environment:

(a)      to consider the outcome of the consultation responses in relation to the proposals set out in (1) and (2) above; and

(b)      if he thinks fit to do so, to proceed thereafter with the statutory consultation and notification process in respect of those proposals; and

(c)       after consideration of the responses to this statutory consultation and notification process, if he thinks it fit to do so, to implement the proposed changes to the daily visitor parking permits and permit refunds; and

(d)      to amend current Traffic Management Orders to implement the proposals set out in (1) and (2) above.