Councillors free parking permits tax

Maria Hardwick made this Freedom of Information request to Westminster City Council

The request was successful.

From: Maria Hardwick

28 August 2009

Dear Sir or Madam,

With regard to the city wide free parking permits that many of the
Councillors have asked for and received, do they pay tax as a
benefit in kind on those free parking permits ?

Yours faithfully,

Maria Hardwick

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Westminster City Council

28 August 2009

Confirmation of Freedom Of Information Request

Thank you for your request for information.

Your request details have now been recorded and will be passed on to the
appropriate Divisional Records Officer for action.

This Freedom Of Information Request was based on the following
information:

Name: Maria Hardwick
Address: See email address
Email: [FOI #17444 email]
Telephone:
Request Details: Dear Sir or Madam,

With regard to the city wide free parking permits that many of the
Councillors have asked for and received, do they pay tax as a
benefit in kind on those free parking permits ?

Yours faithfully,

FOI Reference Number: 4306
Target Completion Date: 28/09/2009

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Tel:020 7641 3921

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From: Craddock, Sarah
Westminster City Council

17 September 2009

Dear Ms Hardwick

I attach the answers to your FOI requests (4306 and 4305)

1. The parking permits can only be used for official purposes.

The individual tax affairs of Councillors are not a matter for the Council
but as these are only to be used for official purposes they are not
regarded as taxable benefit.

2. The Councillors do not receive any pension.

kind regards

Sarah

Sarah Craddock
Senior Committee and Scrutiny Officer
Department of Legal and Administrative Services

Westminster City Council
15th Floor
City Hall
64 Victoria Street
London SW1E 6QP

Tel: 020 7641 2770
Fax: 020 7641 2040
[email address]
www.westminster.gov.uk

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Mr Jones left an annotation (17 September 2009)

"The parking permits can only be used for official purposes".

Right, so I would like to know on what basis the 18 Tory councillors who do have a free official parking permit and have not purchased a resident parking permit, park their car outside their official hours.

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From: Maria Hardwick

22 September 2009

Dear Craddock, Sarah,

Although I did not ask a question 1, your reply is..

1. The parking permits can only be used for official purposes.

As you have included that as part of your reply, please can you
tell me how the councillors free parking permits are enforced on
the streets of Westminster?

Yours sincerely,

Maria Hardwick

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From: Craddock, Sarah
Westminster City Council

25 September 2009

Dear Ms Hardwick

Councillors are reminded about the requirement to only use their
Official Permit for Official Council business at the time of issue.
This requirement is also included in the Council's Code of Governance.

Sarah

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From: Maria Hardwick

25 September 2009

Dear Sarah,

My question was about street enforcement, so it would appear from
your answer there is in fact no street enforcement to ensure that
councillors are not abusing this privalledge.

But I thank you for your speedy reply.

Yours sincerely,

Maria Hardwick

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