Agenda item

Sustainability, Growth and Proposed Changes to Parking

The report summarises the outcome of the informal consultation agreed by Cabinet on the proposed changes to resident parking permits, including pricing changes, and to the charge for Essential User Permits issued to external organisations. In addition the report considers the issue of a proposed diesel surcharge, reviewing the evidence on the environmental and health impacts of pollutants emitted by diesel vehicles with the potential assessed for a surcharge scheme to be introduced, to persuade vehicle owners in Controlled Parking Zones to consider a switch to less-polluting vehicles; informed by the Council’s agreed Air Quality Action Plan.

Decision:

RESOLVED that:

(i) Cabinet agreed to:

a) Proceed to formal statutory consultation, publication and notification on the amendment of the relevant Traffic Management Orders to introduce a £50 p.a. levy on the price of a resident’s parking permit for all diesel vehicles from 1st April 2019;

b) Proceed to formal statutory consultation, publication and notification on the amendment of the relevant Traffic Management Orders to introduce a three year Event Day Permit for the Wembley Event Day Parking Scheme, with an associated £15 administrative charge from 1st April 2019;

c) Proceed to formal statutory consultation, publication and notification on the amendment of the relevant Traffic Management Orders to increase the surcharge for second and third residents’ parking permits in CPZs: from £40 to £50 for second permits; and from £80 to £100 for third permits; and

d) To note that the decision whether to implement the amendment of relevant Traffic Management Orders, in relation to the matters set out in paragraph 2.1 (a), (b) and (c) above, will be made by the Strategic Director Regeneration and Environment, in consultation with the Lead Member for Environment, after consideration of the outcome of the formal consultation pursuant to the Cabinet decision to delegate such authority on 12 March 2018.

(ii) Cabinet agreed, if the proposed diesel surcharge of £50 p.a. was implemented as set out in recommendation 2.1 (a), to then increase the surcharge to £75 p.a. on 1st April 2020 and £100 p.a. on 1st April 2021;

(iii) Cabinet agreed for the Council to offer all Wembley Event Day resident parking permit holders the opportunity to surrender their current paper permit in return for a three year virtual permit at nil cost, during the period up to and including 31st July 2019.

(iv) Cabinet agreed to:

(a) Increase the price charged to external organisations for essential user permits: from £150 p.a. to the cost of a schools permit (£330 p.a. currently) for the NHS, care organisations and charities; and from £150 p.a. to the cost of a business permit for all other external organisations (£440 p.a. currently);

(b) Phase in the proposed charge increases over two years, with interim prices in 2019/20 of: £250 for the NHS, care organisations and charities; and £300 for all other external organisations;

(c) Implement the new prices, as set out in 2.4 (a) above, from 1st April 2020; to the 2020/21 cost of a schools permit for the NHS, care organisations and charities; and to the 2020/21 cost of a business permit for all other external organisations; and

(v) Cabinet noted that officers were developing a strategy to meet our wider objectives to promote sustainable travel, reduce car travel and pollution, and improve the management of traffic and parking in the Borough.

Minutes:

Councillor Krupa Sheth, Cabinet Member for Environment, introduced the report summarising the outcome of informal consultation on the proposed changes to resident parking permits, including pricing changes, and to the charge for Essential User Permits issued to external organisations. Councillor Sheth reminded colleagues that Cabinet had agreed to proceed to informal consultation on these changes on 12 March 2018, and completion of the subsequent consultation exercise.

Councillor Krupa Sheth informed Cabinet that the report also considers the issue of a proposed diesel surcharge in depth, reviewing the evidence on the environmental and health impacts of pollutants emitted by diesel vehicles. The potential is assessed for a surcharge scheme to be introduced, to persuade vehicle owners in Controlled Parking Zones to consider a switch to less-polluting vehicles; informed by the Council’s agreed Air Quality Action Plan.

The report sets these decisions in the context of wider strategic objectives in relation to sustainable transport, air quality, health and growth in the borough.

Councillors Miller, McLennnan and Butt spoke in support of the proposals. Councillor Muhammed Butt, Leader of the Council reminded Cabinet of the pan London initiatives by the Mayor of London.