RESOLVED:

1.      That the responses made during the formal consultation process alongside the further references and considerations raised by the Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Panel be noted.

2.      That the proposed emissions based charging model and charges as set out in Appendix 5 of this report including the amendment to band G & H Residential permit prices be approved.

3.      That the introduction of the changes with effect from 1st April 2021, or as soon as practicable thereafter be approved.

4.      That authority be delegated to the Director of Environment and Regeneration, in consultation with the Cabinet Members for Regeneration, Housing and the Climate Emergency and Adult Social Care and Public Health, to finalise any operational matters in relation to the implementation of the proposals.

5.      That authority be delegated to the Director of Environment and Regeneration, in consultation with the Cabinet Members for Regeneration, Housing and the Climate Emergency and Adult Social Care and Public Health, to make any future minor alterations to the scheme, including the introduction of any additional measures deemed necessary to mitigate the impact of the proposals and to support and incentivise sustainable travel choices.

6.      That the proposed emissions based parking charges scheme be reviewed and reported to Cabinet no later than 24 months after implementation of the proposals.

7.      A concession be provided to those residents living in a CPZ that are over 75, are registered on the Council tax register as a single occupant and in receipt of Council Tax benefit.  These residents will be entitled to a maximum of 12 visitor permits per year at 50% discount for use in the CPZ that they reside in.

8.      The annual rental cost to residents for a cycle parking space in secure residential cycle storage (cycle hangers) be subsidised as set out in 7.6 and 7.7. 

The Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health presented the report, thanking all those involved and welcoming the lengthy consultation process to ensure that the proposals met the objectives, namely to tackle air quality and address climate change through active steps to reduce harmful emissions in the borough.  Although the Council had limited levers to tackle air quality, it had been demonstrated that the ULEZ in London had reduced overall air pollution by 40% and therefore it was right to build on this evidence in Merton to reduce emissions and fulfil the objectives of the Air Quality Action Plan, of which emissions based charging was a key element.  The proposals in the report aligned with the Government’s “Polluter Pays” principle, the Treasury’s vehicle excise duty that the greater share of the tax burden should fall on those who purchase the most polluting cars and the Government’s plans to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars within the next 10 years.  By abolishing the diesel levy surcharge, a fairer approach would be established which would result in around half of existing residential permit holders see their charges either reduce or stay the same.  Only the most polluting vehicles in bands H and above would see a price increase and would be a key factor in affecting behaviour change, in combination with other measures including Low Traffic Neighbourhoods and School Streets, by encouraging users to consider purchasing a lower polluting vehicle, choose more sustainable and healthy modes of transport or use of one of Merton’s car clubs.  Continuous monitoring would be essential to ensure that the measures continued to meet the Council’s objectives.

The Cabinet Member for Housing, Regeneration and the Climate Emergency thanked all the officers involved in the extensive consultation and the proposals would be of benefit to the borough.  The majority of respondents agreed with the overarching principle of the need to tackle air quality and climate change.  He highlighted the response from Transport for London which welcomed the proposed approach.  He summarised the responses in the consultation and felt that the proposals would lead to a step change in behaviour and encourage switching to less polluting vehicles and more sustainable transport choices.  It was noted that as the measures achieve the objectives, the income from parking permits was projected to decrease.  Any revenue received from the proposals could only be spent in line with the provisions of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, and therefore could be reinvested in complimentary sustainable transport measures thus further contributing to the Council’s objectives.  In response to feedback received, the prices for the middle bands G and H had been reduced by £5 and £20 respectively, resulting in approximately 50% of the least polluting vehicles not paying a higher charge.  The introduction of the RingGo parking technology in early 2020 now enabled the introduction of emission based parking charges and a number of respondents supported the move to the “polluter pays” principle.  In the original proposals there had been no concessions to elderly groups, however taking into consideration responses received in the consultation, it was proposed to include a concession for those residents living in a CPZ over the age of 75; those in receipt of council tax benefit and those registered as a single occupant which would provide for up to 12 visitor passes a year at a 50% discount.  This would support those vulnerable residents at risk of social isolation and digital exclusion that may be more reliant on visitors.  He thanked the Chair of the Scrutiny Panel and Councillor Fairclough for their contributions and recommended the report for approval.

The Chair thanked both Cabinet Members for their presentations and work on this report, highlighting the evidence that these measures would encourage a move to lower emitting vehicles and noting the projected fall in income from parking permits. 

The Director of Environment and Regeneration thanked the Scrutiny Panel for their helpful contribution to the debate and the comments which had been addressed in report.  He stressed the need to keep the measures under review, to monitor the impact on car usage and air quality in the borough and monitor the wider London measures brought about to tackle this important topic.  In response to a question from the Chair, the Director advised that the Council did not have any powers to charge road users in the borough nor introduce CPZs in areas where they had not been petitioned.  The Council was seeking to utilise only those powers it had available to it.

The Chair summarised the points raised relating to the evidence supporting the proposals and the changes made to the proposals as a result of the consultation.  He thanked Councillors Fairclough and Mundy for their contributions and welcomed the cross party collaboration on the proposals.

RESOLVED:

1.      That the responses made during the formal consultation process alongside the further references and considerations raised by the Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Panel be noted.

2.      That the proposed emissions based charging model and charges as set out in Appendix 5 of this report including the amendment to band G & H Residential permit prices be approved.

3.      That the introduction of the changes with effect from 1st April 2021, or as soon as practicable thereafter be approved.

4.      That authority be delegated to the Director of Environment and Regeneration, in consultation with the Cabinet Members for Regeneration, Housing and the Climate Emergency and Adult Social Care and Public Health, to finalise any operational matters in relation to the implementation of the proposals.

5.      That authority be delegated to the Director of Environment and Regeneration, in consultation with the Cabinet Members for Regeneration, Housing and the Climate Emergency and Adult Social Care and Public Health, to make any future minor alterations to the scheme, including the introduction of any additional measures deemed necessary to mitigate the impact of the proposals and to support and incentivise sustainable travel choices.

6.      That the proposed emissions based parking charges scheme be reviewed and reported to Cabinet no later than 24 months after implementation of the proposals.

7.      A concession be provided to those residents living in a CPZ that are over 75, are registered on the Council tax register as a single occupant and in receipt of Council Tax benefit.  These residents will be entitled to a maximum of 12 visitor permits per year at 50% discount for use in the CPZ that they reside in.

8.      The annual rental cost to residents for a cycle parking space in secure residential cycle storage (cycle hangers) be subsidised as set out in 7.6 and 7.7.