Agenda item

This report reviews the results of an investigation into how other local authorities have encouraged the use of lower carbon emission vehicles in their residents’ parking (Respark) schemes and presents a number of options for improving existing schemes in York.

RESOLVED: (i)         That the review of the Council’s Residents’ Parking Scheme and the new schemes in Edinburgh and Richmond be noted.

                        (ii)        That the changes to the Residents’ Parking Scheme outlined in Option B in the report (including an additional premium of £18 to be paid for all passes issued to owners of vehicles in VED bands J-M, together with a freeze on the current price of low emission and standard car rate permits) be approved for introduction from the beginning of the new financial year, and that the impact of the changes be monitored.

                        (iii)       That Officers be requested to include vehicles over 5 metres long in the premium category for parking permits.

                        (iv)       That the collection of vehicle specific data for the scheme over the next twelve months be approved and that consultation be carried out on a potential Residents’ Parking low emissions scheme for York.

                        (v)        That a further report, which considers the implications of a low emission scheme, be prepared for the Executive .

REASON:      In order to enhance and increase the influence of an already comparatively favourable emission discount system and to make the best use of available resources whilst taking considerable steps towards achieving the Council’s own targets on improving air quality and tackling congestion, maintaining York’s position at the forefront of CO₂ emission reduction schemes and bringing the current discount policy further in line with Government aspirations on reduced vehicle emissions.

Members considered a report which reviewed the results of an investigation into how other local authorities had encouraged the use of lower carbon emission vehicles in their residents’ parking (Respark) schemes and presented a number of options for improving existing schemes in York.

The review, which had been identified as part of the Council Budget approved on 26 February 2009, had examined schemes operating in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and the City of Edinburgh (the Park Green scheme).  Both of these were based upon vehicle specific schemes, in contrast to the current York Scheme, which was predominantly non vehicle specific.  Comparative details of the three schemes were set out in paragraphs 4 to 31 of the report. 

Further research would be necessary to assess the financial and resource implications of significant changes to the current scheme.  At this stage, the following basic options were presented for consideration:

Option A – no change to the existing scheme.  Not recommended, as there was no evidence that the current scheme was influencing permit holders to switch to low emission vehicles.

Option B – make changes to the existing scheme. Recommended changes included: informing households of the benefits of changing to low emission vehicles, increasing the permit discount to include Band C vehicles, allowing all electric or LPG driven first household vehicles to qualify for a discount, and imposing a surcharge on vehicles in Bands K, L and M.   This was the recommended option.

Option C – develop a new vehicle specific scheme similar to that operating in Richmond. This would require wholesale changes to current working practices and it was not yet clear whether it would have a positive or detrimental effect in York.  It would take about a year to gather data on all the vehicles in the scheme and to carry out consultation.

Members noted that no adverse representations had been received to the proposed changes outlined in the report.  If approved, they would be included in the budget proposals for the 2010/11 financial year.

RESOLVED: (i)         That the review of the Council’s Residents’ Parking Scheme and the new schemes in Edinburgh and Richmond be noted.

                        (ii)        That the changes to the Residents’ Parking Scheme outlined in Option B in the report (including an additional premium of £18 to be paid for all passes issued to owners of vehicles in VED bands J-M, together with a freeze on the current price of low emission and standard car rate permits) be approved for introduction from the beginning of the new financial year, and that the impact of the changes be monitored.¹

                        (iii)       That Officers be requested to include vehicles over 5 metres long in the premium category for parking permits. ²

                        (iv)       That the collection of vehicle specific data for the scheme over the next twelve months be approved and that consultation be carried out on a potential Residents’ Parking low emissions scheme for York. ³

                        (v)        That a further report, which considers the implications of a low emission scheme, be prepared for the Executive. ⁴

REASON:      In order to enhance and increase the influence of an already comparatively favourable emission discount system and to make the best use of available resources whilst taking considerable steps towards achieving the Council’s own targets on improving air quality and tackling congestion, maintaining York’s position at the forefront of CO₂ emission reduction schemes and bringing the current discount policy further in line with Government aspirations on reduced vehicle emissions.