Agenda item

Parking management was seen as an important tool in addressing inequality, responding to the climate emergency, and improving health. In July 2024, the Cabinet approved a new Parking Strategy aimed at promoting a cohesive, forward-thinking approach to parking management. This strategy provided a framework to reduce congestion, support local businesses, improve air quality, and enhance the overall vitality of Haringey’s diverse community.

During that meeting, Cabinet also approved proposed changes to parking policy and charges to support the strategy’s implementation. A decision was to be made, following the required statutory consultation, on whether to amend the relevant traffic management orders. The approved changes, detailed in Appendix D of the July 2024 Cabinet report, included:

• The introduction of a new parking permit charge band for fully electric vehicles, affecting all other parking permit charge bands.
• A new surcharge for larger vehicles: 5% for medium-sized (4m-4.49m) vehicles and 10% for vehicles longer than 4.5m.
• Incrementally higher surcharges for second and subsequent parking permits per household, extending to business parking permits.
• Parking charges for electric vehicles (EVs) using pay-by-phone and contactless bays and parking in EV charging bays.
• Administration fees for rejected permit applications and change of address requests.
• The introduction of a £40, 21-day temporary vehicle cover for business, boroughwide, and essential service permits, including for doctors (this already applied to residential permits).
• Hourly business visitor parking permits, limited to 100 per year.
• A non-resident Blue Badge holder permit for workers in the borough.
• The withdrawal of daily visitor parking permits.

This report provided the results of the statutory consultation on these proposals and sought approval to implement them, excluding the withdrawal of daily visitor parking permits.The Cabinet’s Parking Strategy, approved in July 2024, aimed to provide a cohesive approach to managing parking for a growing borough, addressing congestion, supporting businesses, and improving the environment. By 2031, the borough’s population was expected to rise by 6.3% to 280,100. The Council, as the local highway and parking authority, manages 355 km of streets and over 55,000 on-street parking spaces across 42 controlled parking zones (CPZs), covering around 75% of the borough.

The Cabinet Member RESOLVED:

Recommendations:

It is recommended that the Cabinet Member for Tackling Inequality and Resident Experience:

3.1 Notes the objections to the statutory consultation on proposed changes to parking policy and charges, as set out in Section 8 and Appendix A.

3.2 Approves the implementation of the changes set out in Appendix B to give effect to the proposals approved by Cabinet on 16 July 2024 set out in paragraph 1.2 above except for the withdrawal of daily visitor parking permits.

3.3 Agrees that the proposal to withdraw daily visitor parking permits shall not progress.

3.4 Delegates authority to the Head of Highways and Parking to make all necessary traffic management orders to implement the changes to parking policy and charges in Appendix B.

Reasons for decision:

4.1 The Council is required to consider objections and representations received in response to statutory consultation on changes to parking policy and charges prior to making a decision on whether to proceed with the implementation of proposals.

4.2 The proposals support the delivery of the Council’s adopted Parking Strategy. The overarching objective of that strategy is to create an efficient, reliable and safe road network - enhancing the safety and efficiency of Haringey’s road network.

4.3. In line with the Council’s overall charging policies, the new charges seek to address the environmental impact of vehicles, considering factors like volume of vehicles and vehicle emissions, and vehicle size. These charges are intended to incentivise more sustainable transport choices, aligning with the commitment to address the climate emergency and deliver healthy streets.They also aim to reflect the real-world impact of vehicle usage and achieve a full cost recovery of service provision, ensuring financial stability of the service.

Alternative options considered:

5.1. Consideration was given to relying on national and regional levers to influence car ownership and use. This would also result in the Council continuing to respond to pressures and stakeholder requirements on a responsive basis. However, in considering Haringey’s transport ambitions and commitment to implement measures that improve the health and well-being opportunities for all borough residents, this option was not recommended for the following reasons:

-       Inadequate response to increasing demands – continuing with existing practices would not adequately address the growing pressure on parking and highways as Haringey’s population and infrastructure demands increase.

-       Compromise strategic objectives – not adopting a strategic approach would undermine the ability to significantly contribute to corporate objectives, which aim to enhance mobility and support sustainable urban development.

-       Risk to service quality and efficiency – the lack of a forward-looking strategy could lead to deteriorating service quality, increased congestion, and reduced satisfaction among residents and businesses.

5.2. Consideration was given to proceeding to implement proposals to withdraw daily visitor parking permits. Following consideration of the objections received, this is not being progressed further. Those objections highlighted the necessity of those permits, as well as that the withdrawal would have a disproportionate financial impact on some residents living in controlled parking zones (CPZs) with longer operational hours. Those tend to be in the east of the borough.