Purpose

In December 2024, the Mayor and Cabinet agreed a series
of new Clean Air Parking Charges designed to
improve the borough’s air quality, protect public health, and
accelerate its Just Transition Climate Action plan to achieve Net
Zero within Newham by 2045.  
 
Newham has long faced
some of the poorest air quality levels in London, with residents
exposed to airborne particulate matter levels a third higher than
World Health Organisation guidelines, while harmful Nitrogen
Dioxide (NO?) concentrations exceed
UK health limits for one in seven residents. Public Health England
estimates that 7.5% of deaths in Newham are attributable, in part,
to air pollution. 
 
That is why the Mayor and
Cabinet are unrelenting in their commitment in encouraging walking,
cycling or the use of public transport, and the safe movement of
goods without polluting Newham’s streets. Encouraging the
switch to greener transport choices aimed at tackling poor air
quality in the borough is why the Mayor and Cabinet agreed the
introduction of a borough-wide diesel surcharge in December 2024 as
well. 
 
This
report seeks to complement previous decisions agreed by the Mayor
and Cabinet last year, by strengthening the incentives for drivers
to transition to greener vehicles, with those driving higher
polluting vehicles being charged more for the CO2 emissions they
make. That is fair in the context of the disproportionate health
risks placed on Newham residents, who live in the second most
at-risk area to extreme heat in the entirety of the
UK.  
 

Decision

Decision
 
For the reasons set out in the report and its
appendices Cabinet RESOLVED to Agree to:
 

i) 
A realignment of Newham’s standard CO2 emissions-based
charging model, as laid out in section 4.12;

ii) 
An uplift in fees on Resident Permits, as laid out in section
4.23;

iii) 
An uplift in fees on Business Permits, as laid out in section
4.38;

iv) 
An uplift in fees on Charity Business Permits, and Industrial
Permits, as laid out in section 4.44;

v) 
The introduction of a diesel surcharge on visitor permits, as laid
out in 4.58;

vi) 
The introduction of new fees for existing visitor permits, and a
new 1-hour visitor permit, as laid out in 4.99;

vii) 
A 23% uplift in the surcharge levied on resident permit holders
where the household they reside in holds 2 or more resident
permits, as laid out in section 4.109;

viii) 
A 20% uplift in the cost of a parking suspension bay charge, and
amendment of other suspension charges, as laid out in section 4.128
and 4.129;

ix) 
The amendment of prices for Trade Permits, Courtesy Permits, and
Carers Permits, as laid out in 4.143; and

x) 
That the Corporate Director for Environment and Sustainable
Transport, in consultation with the lead member for Parking, be
delegated the authority to approve minor changes to the proposals
laid out in this report (up to 10% variance), following
consultation (where required by legislation), to implement those
changes as required.
 
Alternatives
Considered
 
a) 
Do nothing: this was considered, but rejected, as the differences
in pricing between the highest and lowest charging tiers for
Newham’s parking permits are insufficient to incentivise
drivers to opt for the greenest vehicle that they can, and
undermines the council’s commitment to improving air quality
and reduce CO2 emissions in the borough.