Officer delegated decision Date June 2007
Introduction of a vehicle emission based charging regime for residents parking permits |
Item XX |
All Wards
Report authorised by: Robert Overall, Executive Director-Environment, Culture & Community Safety |
Executive summary
On 21 May 2007 the Executive Director approved the undertaking of appropriate consultation and to the advertising of Traffic Orders in the association with the introduction of new charges and a new charging regime, based on vehicle emissions, for residents parking permits.
This report outlines the representations received to the consultation, including the statutory consultation in association with the Traffic Order process.
The report considers those representations in the context of the proposals and recommends that the Executive Director approves the introduction of the new charges and charging regime.
Summary of financial implications
The financial implications arising from this report are as set out in detail within section 4 of the delegated report agreed by the Executive Director on 21st May 2007. It is estimated the introduction of the regime described would result in an estimated additional (net) income of £957,000 in a full year.
Accordingly it is estimated that introduction of the proposal would result in additional (net) income of £675,000 in 2007/08 and £281,000 in 2008/09.
Recommendations
That, having given consideration to the representations received and discussed in this report, the Executive Director for Environment, Culture and Community Safety agrees to the introduction of the charges and regime as described within this report on or shortly after 1st July 2007.
I agree the above recommendations:
Signature _____________________________ Date ______________________
Post ___________________________________________________________
Any declarations of interest (or exemptions granted):
Issue |
Interest declared |
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Consultation
Name of consultee |
Directorate or Organisation |
Date sent to consultee |
Date response received from consultee |
Comments appear in report para: |
Internal |
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|
Mike Dickens |
Head of Legal Services |
21.06.07 |
21.06.07 |
5.1 |
Bev Winter |
Divisional Director (Resources) - Environment, Culture & Community Safety |
21.06.07 |
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|
Cllr Lib Peck |
Cabinet Member - Environment, Culture & Community Safety |
21.06.07 |
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Cllr Nigel Haselden |
Deputy Cabinet Member (Highways & Traffic) |
21.06.07 |
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Entered in Consultation and Events Diary? |
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No |
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If yes, date |
N/A |
Report history
Decision type: |
Urgency item? |
Key decision
Entered in Forward Plan: February 2007 |
No |
Authorised by Cabinet member: |
Date report drafted: |
Report deadline: |
Date report sent: |
Dec 2006 |
20.06.07 |
N/A |
N/A |
Report author and contact for queries: |
Tim Jackson, Assistant Director - Street Management |
020 7926 1236 [email address] |
Background documents
Delegated officer decision report: Introduction of a vehicle emission-based charging regime for residents parking permits: May 2007 (approved 21 May 2007) and documents listed in that report.
Appendices
Appendix A - Proposal Charges.
Appendix B - Summary of all representations received.
Introduction of a vehicle emission-based charging regime for residents parking permits
Context
The proposed (emission based resident parking permit) regime and charges that form the subject of this report were included within appendices which were approved by Cabinet on 8 January and 8 February 2007 and subsequently by Council on 27 February 2007 as part of the 2007/08 budget setting process.
The proposals were subject to scrutiny at the meeting of the Environment, Culture and Community Safety Scrutiny Committee on 2 February 2007.
Consistent with the Scheme of Delegation, a report was subsequently made to, and approved by, the Executive Director for Environment, Culture & Community Safety on 21 May 2007.
That report provided approval to the undertaking of appropriate consultation and the advertising of Traffic Orders in association with the proposed introduction of new charges and a new (vehicle emission based) charging regime for residents parking permits.
The proposed charging regime is detailed at Appendix A.
Consequent to the decision made on 21 May 2007, the necessary statutory consultation associated with the making of the appropriate Traffic Orders, necessary to effect the proposed regime, has been undertaken.
The statutory consultation comprised the displaying of street notices on every road within existing controlled parking zones, the publication of notices in the press and consultation with statutory consultees (principally the emergency services).
The statutory consultation period commenced on 29 May 2007 and closed on 19 June 2007.
In addition to the statutory process, arrangements have been made to allow interested parties to consider the proposal and make representations regarding them.
These arrangements effectively commenced when the proposals were put in the public domain by means of the initial reports to Cabinet and Council. However, this engagement was supplemented by a letter to all businesses and residents in controlled parking zones (distributed early May 2007), an article in Lambeth Life (February edition), details in the “Parking Newsletter” (distributed to all existing permit holders May 2007) and information on the Council's website.
Arrangements were made for representations to be received by post and e-mail at addresses identified within the information provided.
The delegated officer decision report of 21 May 2007 agreed that the Executive Director would consider all representations received in relation to the proposal prior to deciding whether or not to introduce the proposed regime.
This report details the representations received and provides that consideration.
Results of consultation
A total of 95 representations were received in response to the proposals.
12 representations were received in direct response to the statutory consultation associated with the Traffic Orders.
83 representations were received in response to details of the proposals provided through the other consultation/engagement mechanisms described in 1.5.
One of the responses stated unreserved support for the proposals and hence the remainder can be construed as objections. Sixteen (17%) of the responses stated that they were generally supportive of the concept. Three (3%) of responses stated that they were wholly supportive but that the structure should be revised.
Details of the representations are summarised in Appendix B.
All of the representations received were from current permit holding residents.
No feedback was received from businesses or residents without access to a vehicle.
There are approximately 21,300 (full year equivalent) resident parking permit holders in the Borough. Thus objections have been received from approximately 0.4% of permit holders.
There are approximately 64,000 households within that part of Lambeth covered by controlled parking zones. Thus objections have been received from approximately 0.14% of households.
Of those representations received in the form of objections to the proposals, there were a number of recurring grounds for the objections. These were:
that the proposals are disingenuous (i.e. that they purport to be part of a strategy to combat climate change but are actually not so);
that the proposals are (wholly) revenue driven;
that it is perverse to seek to reduce emissions by imposing a regime of charges around parked cars;
that the regime penalises residents who act responsibly (limiting their car use) and should be related to actual car usage (mileage covered);
that the proposed charges are too high;
that the regime disproportionately impacts on large families, those on fixed incomes and/or the less well off (who tend to have older/larger cars);
that the regime discriminates against residents in controlled parking zones;
that the consultation on the proposals has been inadequate;
that the proposal will encourage car change and increase the overall carbon footprint;
that the proposals are unlawful in that they are a retrospective tax.
Of those representations received in the form of support for the proposals, the recurring theme was that the charging structure provides insufficient incentive to influence residents' decisions.
A number of supportive respondents were concerned that the lowest “standard” low emission vehicles available (other than electric cars) will not fall within the lowest charging band.
A number of supportive respondents were concerned about the lack of physical infrastructure (charging points etc) to subject electric cars.
3. Consideration of objections
3.1 “Proposal is disingenuous”.
The report to the Executive Director (May 2007) and appendices to the Council decision (27 February 2007) clearly set out the transport and environmental context within which the proposals are framed. In particular all previous documentation has stated that “the current charges fail to provided sufficient encouragement for residents to own vehicles that cause less environmental damage through CO2 emissions or to discourage those residents who use less environmentally friendly vehicles”.
The proposals sit within a wider framework of combating climate change through the support of sustainable transport use, car clubs etc.
3.2 “Proposals are (wholly) revenue driven”.
It is not lawful for a Council to use the Road Traffic Act 1984 to impose charges simply to raise revenue. The report to the Executive Director (May 2007) and the appendices to the Council decision (February 2007) refer to that being the case and clearly outline the transport and environment policy objectives behind the proposals.
3.3 “It is perverse to charge for parking”.
The cost of parking is part of the overall cost of motoring and, as a consequence, parking charges are a factor in ownership decisions. The situation is similar to the vehicle excise licence differential charges (a licence is required to place the vehicle on the public highway regardless of whether or not it is driven).
“The regime should be designed around car usage”.
In the longer term, it may be possible to develop a regime that influences behaviour by considering both car use and type of vehicle. However, such a regime would be complex to devise and require increased administration. A regime based around car usage only would not necessarily encourage consideration of the CO2 emissions
“The proposed charges are too high”.
The charges are reasonable when considered in the context of the overall cost of motoring (they equate to between 60p and £3.85 per week). They bring charges in Lambeth more broadly in line with other boroughs with similar parking conditions and practices. At the same time the proposals provide sufficient financial incentive for residents to consider emissions when considering replacement or a new purchase of a car.
“The regime disproportionately impacts on larger families, those on fixed incomes and the less well off.”
Precise information about the car ownership profile amongst existing permit holders is not available, but it is estimated that around 7.5% of permit holders will fall into the highest payment bands (6 and 9).
Car owner ownership levels amongst those on fixed incomes and the less well off in Lambeth is relatively low (car ownership in Lambeth is typically below the London average) and consequently the proposals will not affect a significant proportion of residents in that category. The cost of parking is an integral part of the cost of motoring and a factor in lifestyle decisions for all residents - including large families. There is often a range of vehicles that could accommodate the lifestyle of larger families and some cars have lower emissions than others.
“The regime discriminates against residents in controlled parking zones”.
The Council is currently not in a position to apply the charges outside of controlled parking zones. Controlled parking zones are introduced after extensive consultation and with the support of residents who currently benefit from the advantage of controlled parking, albeit whilst being charged for permits. In the longer term, the Council will seek to use any powers it is given to influence emissions and car ownership across the borough.
“Consultation has been inadequate”
The consultation arrangements employed are described in Section 1 of this report.
The statutory consultation procedure required in relation to the necessary Traffic Order has been fully complied with and included in the displaying of a notice on every street within controlled parking zones.
The proposals have been in the public domain, initially in outline and then in detail, for a number of months. A mechanism is available to receive any representations and Appendix B illustrates that it has been successfully used.
The purpose of this report is to give proper consideration to all representations received. The Head of Legal Services has previously advised that the arrangements put in place have been adequate.
3.9 “The proposal will encourage car change and increase the overall carbon footprint”.
Parking charges are a relatively small proportion in the cost of a car purchase. Whilst the aim of the proposed regime is to influence decisions about the type of car purchased (or whether to own a car at all), it is considered most unlikely that the charges alone would precipitate car changing on a significant scale and consequently increase the overall carbon footprint due to an increase in the number of vehicles. Similarly it is considered unlikely that residents would increase car usage to get “value for money” from their permits.
The proposals are unlawful in that they are a retrospective tax”.
Richmond Council introduced a similar scheme earlier this year and this was not challenged subsequently. Counsel for Richmond advised, prior to implementation of the Richmond scheme, that there was no reason, in principle, why the changes should not, as a matter of law, be implemented. The advice provided by the Head of Legal Services with regard to the Lambeth proposal was consistent with that view and was summarised in the report to the Executive Director (May 2007).
4. Consideration of supportive representations
“Structure of regime provides too little incentive for change”.
The structure incorporates a range of charges (from £30 to £200), which sends a clear message to residents around car emissions. The introduction of emission based charging regimes represents new ground for all councils and the effectiveness will have to be monitored over time. The council will need to review the outcome of the regime against the stated policy objectives and consider adjusting the structure if those policy objectives are not being achieved.
4.2 “The most commonly accepted low emission car (other than an electric car) is not in the lowest charging band”.
The charging structure has been based on the DVLA “VED” banding structure for general consistency with Central Government and other boroughs' regimes. It is anticipated that, in time, more vehicles will be available in Band A.
4.3 “Too few electric car charging points.”
The council is working with TfL to introduce additional charging points in the borough and will support residents seeking to install charging points as part of their car ownership decisions.
Legal Powers
The Council is empowered by the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (as amended) and the Road Traffic Act 1991 to provide parking places on and off the highway and to charge for their use.
Section 45 (!) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (RTRA) provides the power to designate by order, on-street parking places. Sections 45 (2) (b) and 46 (2) (i) of the RTRA extend the means to charge for such parking places.
The proposed emission-based residents' parking permit regime would be introduced by making a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) under the RTRA. The procedure for doing this is set out in the Local Authorities Traffic Orders (Procedure) (England and Wales) Regulations 1996.
This requires:
consultation with organisations representing persons who use any road to which the Order relates, or are likely to be otherwise affected;
publication of proposals and providing documents for inspection;
inviting written objections to proposals following publication;
consideration of objections made.
Section 122 (1) of the RTRA specifies that an Authority has a duty “…to exercise the functions conferred on them by this Act as (so far as practicable having regard to the matters specified in subsection (2) below to secure the expeditious, convenient and safe movement of vehicular and other traffic (including pedestrians) and the provision of suitable and adequate parking facilities on and off the highway”.
Some of the matters specified at Section 122 (2) include:
the effect on amenities of any locality;
the strategy prepared under Section 80 of the Environment Act 1995 (Air Quality Strategy) and
(d) any other matters appearing to the local authority to be relevant.
Sections 122 (2) (bb) and (d) therefore permit the Authority to consider Air Quality and Environmental matters when determining the parameters of a new parking scheme.
Sections 45 of the RTRA permits differential charging based on vehicular emissions and that regard may be had to environmental considerations in creating a parking regime under the RTRA.
Furthermore, local authorities have well-being powers under the Local Government Act 2000. These are wide-ranging powers which allow authorities to do anything which they consider is likely to achieve objectives listed and which include the promotion or improvement of the environmental well-being of their area.
The Scheme of Delegation to Officers, as approved by Council at its Annual Meeting on 24th May 2007, empowers Executive Directors to approve fees and charges for departmental services (unless otherwise reserved to Cabinet) in consultation with the relevant Cabinet Member and with the agreement of the Executive Director of Finance & Resources.
The proposed (emission based resident parking permit) regime and charges that form the subject of this report were included within the appendices which were approved by Cabinet on the 8th January and 8th February 2007 and Council on 27th February 2007 and have therefore been authorised. They were also the subject of scrutiny at the meeting of the Environment & Community Safety Scrutiny Sub-Committee on 2nd February 2007.
The powers to advertise and subsequently make the Traffic Orders (subject to proper consideration of all objections received) that are required to introduce the charges set out in his report are expressly delegated to officers in Environment, Culture & Community Safety, as set out in the Scheme of Delegation The legal powers associated with this proposal are as detailed in the report to the Executive Director (May 2007).
6. Recommendations
The Executive Director for Environment, Culture & Community Safety is recommended, after proper consideration of the matters raised by way of objections and representations and summarised in Section 2.3 and Appendix B and discussed in detail in Sections 3.0 and 4.0 above and in the context of the policy and other reasons for the proposal as set out in early reports, to agree to the introduction of the charges and regime (described in this report and shown in Appendix A) on or shortly after 1 July 2007.
APPENDIX A
Proposal charges - annual residents' parking permit
For vehicles registered on or after 1st March 2001:
Lambeth charging band |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
DVLA “VED” band |
A |
B |
C & D |
E |
F |
G |
CO2 emission figure |
Up to 100 |
101-120 |
121-165 |
166-185 |
186-225 |
225+ |
Permit charge (per annum) |
£30 |
£100 |
£115 |
£130 |
£160 |
£200 |
For vehicles registered before 1st March 2001:
Lambeth charging band |
7 |
8 |
9 |
Engine size |
Less than 1550 cc |
1550-3000 cc |
Greater than 3000 cc |
Permit charge (per annum) |
£115 |
£130 |
£200 |
For vehicles owned by residents living within the central London Congestion Charging Zone:
As (i) and (ii) above less £10.00
For vehicles retro-converted to dual (petrol/LPG) fuel
Charged one band lower than the standard non-converted band.
(v) Proposed residents' parking permit charges - for periods less than 1 year
The charge shall be pro rata the annual charge shown in Appendix D. rounded up to the nearest £ with the addition of an administrative fee as follows:
|
Additional fee (£) |
For permits of 1 month |
4.60 |
For permits of 3 months |
3.75 |
For permits of 6 months |
2.50 |
APPENDIX B: SUMMARY OF REPRESENTATIONS RECEIVED
No |
Address |
Resident or business or other |
Response to |
Representation |
1 |
Poynders Rd |
R |
S |
|
2 |
Roupell Street |
R |
S |
|
3 |
Not provided |
R |
S |
|
4 |
Hannington Road |
R |
S |
|
5 |
Brixton Road |
R |
S |
|
6 |
Railton Road |
R |
S |
|
7 |
Not provided |
R |
S |
|
8 |
Gilbert Road |
R |
S |
|
9 |
Grantham Rd |
R |
S |
|
10 |
Haverhill Road |
R |
S |
|
11 |
Dulwich Road |
R |
S |
|
12 |
Elms Crescent |
R |
S |
|
13 |
Arlingford Road |
R |
S |
Inadequate consultation Disingenuous proposal Alternative mechanisms (mileage or fuel use related or cheaper public transport) should be utilised. |
14 |
Tradescant Rd |
R |
S |
|
15 |
Dulwich Road |
R |
S |
|
16 |
Dulwich Road |
R |
S |
|
17 |
Methley Street |
R |
G |
|
18 |
Not provided |
R |
G |
|
19 |
Thornton resident |
R |
G |
|
20 |
Not provided |
R |
G |
|
21 |
Fitzwilliam Rd |
R |
G |
|
22 |
Thornton Ward resident |
R |
G |
|
23 |
Thornton Ward resident |
R |
G |
|
24 |
Edgeley Road |
R |
G |
|
25 |
SE11 |
R |
G |
|
26 |
- |
R |
G |
|
27 |
- |
R |
G |
|
28 |
Not provided |
R |
G |
|
29 |
Not provided. |
R |
G |
|
30 |
Grantham Road |
R |
G |
|
31 |
Brixton resident |
R |
G |
|
32 |
Grimsworth Road |
R |
G |
|
33 |
Not provided. |
R |
G |
|
34 |
Not provided |
R |
G |
|
35 |
Haverhill Road |
R |
G |
|
36 |
Not provided |
R |
G |
|
37 |
Not provided. |
R |
G |
|
38 |
Crescent Lane |
R |
G |
|
39 |
SW8 |
R |
G |
|
40 |
Not provided. |
R |
G |
|
41 |
Not provided. |
R |
G |
|
42 |
Not provided. |
R |
G |
|
43 |
Thorne Road |
R |
G |
|
44 |
Elm Park (CPZ) resident |
R |
G |
|
45 |
Baytree Road |
R |
G |
|
46 |
Clapham Common North Side |
R |
G |
|
47 |
Sancroft Street |
R |
G |
|
48 |
St Marys Gardens |
R |
G |
|
49 |
Not provided. |
|
|
|
50 |
Not provided. |
R |
G |
|
51 |
Not provided. |
R |
G |
|
52 |
Not provided. |
R |
G |
|
53 |
Queensville Road |
R |
G |
|
54 |
Not provided. |
R |
G |
|
55 |
Arodene Road |
R |
G |
|
56 |
Not provided. |
R |
G |
|
57 |
Not provided. |
R |
G |
|
58 |
Trinity Gardens |
R |
G |
|
59 |
Not provided. |
R |
G |
|
60 |
Not provided. |
R |
G |
|
61 |
Not provided. |
R |
G |
|
62 |
Bromfelde Road |
R |
S |
|
63 |
Not provided. |
R |
G |
|
64 |
Jeffreys Road |
R |
G |
|
65 |
Not provided. |
R |
G |
|
66 |
Not provided |
R |
G |
|
67 |
Pentney Road |
R |
G |
|
68 |
Fitzwilliam Road |
|
|
|
69 |
Not provided. |
|
|
|
70 |
Not provided |
R |
G |
|
71 |
Not provided. |
R |
G |
|
72 |
Pentney Road |
R |
S |
|
73 |
Ferndale Road |
R |
G |
|
74 |
Not provided. |
R |
G |
|
75 |
Not provided. |
R |
G |
|
76 |
Not provided. |
R |
G |
|
77 |
Mayall Road |
R |
G |
|
78 |
Not provided. |
R |
G |
|
79 |
Hyde Farm Area |
R |
G |
|
80 |
Hydethorpe Road |
R |
G |
|
81 |
Hazelbourne Road |
R |
S |
|
82 |
Not provided. |
R |
G |
|
83 |
Regent Road |
R |
G |
|
84 |
Walcott Square |
R |
G |
|
85 |
Concanon Road |
R |
G |
|
86 |
Helix Road |
R |
S |
|
87 |
Tasman Road |
R |
S |
|
88 |
Haverhill Road |
R |
S |
|
89 |
Not provided. |
R |
G |
|
90 |
Not provided |
R |
G |
|
91 |
Not provided |
R |
G |
|
92 |
Robertson Street |
R |
G |
|
93 |
Not provided. |
R |
G |
|
94 |
Burnbury Road |
R |
G |
|
95 |
Kimberley Road |
R |
G |
|
.
Notes
Column 4: S - response to statutory consultation
G - response to other engagement mechanism
Representations have been summarised and paraphrased for brevity
Introduction of a vehicle emission-based charging regime for residents parking permits 20
b
Report title here in Arial 8pitch