Agenda item

The Director of Planning, Development and Transportation submits a report explaining the background to the Workplace Parking Levy (WPL) and providing an early indication of the likely actions to take forward the Council’s commitment to consult on a WPL for Leicester.  The Commission is recommended to note the report and comment as appropriate.

Councillor Rae Bhatia reminded the Commission of the interest he had declared in this item.

The Director of Planning, Development and Transportation submitted a report explaining the background to the Workplace Parking Levy (WPL) and providing an early indication of the likely actions to take forward the Council’s commitment to consult on a WPL for Leicester.

The City Mayor introduced the report, asking for Members’ views on the proposal for a WPL before wider consultation was undertaken.  He stressed that this matter was at a very early stage of consideration, with a lot of work needed before consideration could be given to preparing a draft scheme.

It was queried whether these proposals were the same as those that had been discussed a few years previously, in relation to the Park and Ride scheme.  The City Mayor advised that they were not the same, as the scheme that had been considered previously was a very limited congestion charging scheme.

A concern also was raised that the proposals were quite limited and that the Council should be seeking to take more action on this issue.  For example, it was suggested that suggested ways forward could be sought from outside the Council and public consultation then held on a scheme that had public support.

Members also queried how ideas could be sought on how revenue raised could be used, to avoid the WPL not being accepted through lack of knowledge and/or information.  In reply, the City Mayor explained that initial conversations would include discussions on how any revenue raised could best be used to help deter people from using cars in the city, while being offered a realistic alternative.

It was suggested that the introduction of electric mobility vehicles to help people move around the city centre could be an appropriate scheme to fund from revenue raised by a WPL.  Another option could be to offer reduced bus fares for young people in the city, as many of them experienced financial difficulties.

At the invitation of the Chair, Maureen Peberdy, representing Labour Disability, addressed the Commission, noting that limited “blue badge” parking was available for disabled drivers holding blue badges and parking in some car parks was very expensive.  This deterred those drivers from coming in to the city centre.  Ms Peberdy therefore asked whether holders of blue badges would be exempt from a WPL.  In reply, the City Mayor advised that this would be considered during the discussions to be held before any scheme was drafted.

It also was suggested that an alternative option could be to fund a trolley-bus mass transit system.  At present, an exemption from current legal requirements for public transport systems could be needed, as trolley buses were longer and more articulated than currently permitted.  It therefore was requested that the possibility of obtaining such an exemption be investigated.

Members also queried whether the potential economic impact of a WPL on businesses had been considered, either as a deterrent or encouragement to their development.  In reply, the City Mayor noted that experience of a WPL in Nottingham showed that benefits to the economy of having funding available for public transport outweighed the negative aspects of having to pay the WPL.  An assessment therefore needed to be made of whether this also would be the result in Leicester.  This consideration would include discussions with trades unions, including an assessment of the impact of a WPL for lower-paid workers if an employer passed on the full cost of a WPL to their employees.

AGREED:

1)      That the Director of Planning, Development and Transportation be asked to investigate whether an exemption from current legislation covering the permitted size of public transport vehicles could be gained to potentially enable a trolley-bus mass transit system to be established in the city; and

2)      That the City Mayor be asked to report back to this Commission when the conversations referred to above on the introduction of a Workplace Parking Levy have been held, to update the Commission on progress with these discussions and the proposed way forward.