Officer presentation.
Minutes:
Tim Walker presented this item and explained that his team were consulting community councils on a proposal to base the residents’ on-street parking charges on their vehicle’s Co2 emissions. He said the proposal tied in with Southwark’s commitment to promote sustainable forms of transport, and to reduce levels of air pollution resulting from road transport. Tim went on to present two options:
Option 1 was an across the board increase for all residents’ permits. This would mean the cost of a residents parking permit will increase from £99.30 to £125.
Option 2 consisted of charging motorists for permits based on Co2 emissions, and engine size, if the vehicle pre-dates 2001. This meant cheaper permits for residents with low emission vehicles and higher charges for cars that emit more Co2. With this option 47% of car owners would be paying less for their permit than the Option 1 flat rate of £125. The scheme would be based on the DVLA Model with 6 bands.
Vehicles that pre-date 2001 would be charged on the vehicles cubic capacity. Vehicles of CC less than 1600 will pay less than option 1. With this option 42% of car owners would be paying less for their permit than the Option 1 flat rate of £125. Vehicles of CC more than 1600 will pay more.
Tim invited people’s views on the options. These which would be fed back to cabinet member for consideration. If agreed by the cabinet member, the scheme would be implemented from in May/June 2011. Existing permits would be changed over when they expire.
The chair clarified that there would be an increase in the charges regardless of the option chosen. The difference was how the increase would be paid for. Responding to questions by councillors and members of the public, Tim explained that the proposals would only affect on-street parking in Controlled Parking Zones (CPZ), and would also not disadvantage trades people. He went on to explain that the Community Councils were the only forums being consulted. The decision would be taken as a cabinet member decision, so councillors could make representations about this.
Concerns were raised that while councillors were keen to put in practice green measures, people who could not afford to change their cars would be impacted negatively by option 2.
Councillors and members of the public discussed the merits and disbenefits of the two options, including the potential cost of implementing the new system. The chair asked members of the public for an indication by show of hands which of the two options they preferred. The Chair announced that there had been a small majority in favour of option two.