Purpose

Newham’s air quality has long been
amongst the poorest in London, with tragic consequences in our
borough – Public Health England estimate that one in thirteen
deaths (7.5%) in Newham are attributable in part to particulate air
pollution.
 
In order to tackle the scourge of poor air
quality, Newham's Air Quality Action Plan 2019-24 sets out a range
of objectives, including use parking policy to reduce pollution
emissions.
 
As well as improving air quality, Newham
Council is committed to playing its part in tackling the climate
emergency. Transport is now the UK’s biggest source of
emissions, and - while Newham Council has since 2021 introduced the
principle of emissions-based charges for parking across all its
products - the difference in the charges levied on electric
vehicles and the most polluting vehicles in some areas is
insufficient to properly incentivise drivers of higher polluting
vehicles to make greener choices.
 
This report puts forward a package of
proposals that seek to build on the work of this administration
over the last few years, and ensure that drivers of electric and
low emission vehicles are rewarded for their choices through
significantly lower charges, while making sure that those who
choose to drive high polluting or diesel vehicles, which have a
significant impact on the health of our residents, are properly
incentivised to make the move to greener options. 

Decision

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

i) 
The introduction of a diesel surcharge for short stay parking
sessions of £1 per hour for diesel vehicles, to incentivise
visitors to opt for less polluting forms of transport.

 

ii) 
The introduction of a £50 a year diesel surcharge for
resident permits, to incentivise owners of diesel vehicles to
switch to less polluting vehicles.

 

iii) 
The introduction of a £100 a year diesel surcharge for
business, industrial and charity permits, to incentivise owners of
diesel vehicles to switch to less polluting vehicles.

 

iv) 
The restructuring of emissions – based parking charges for
short stay parking and visitor permits, as laid out in 3.52 and
3.75, in order to strengthen incentives for drivers to opt for
lower emitting vehicles, by reducing charges for electric vehicles,
while rising prices for high[1]polluting vehicles.

 

v) 
The rationalisation of visitor permits sold in Newham; by replacing
the current 6, 12 and 24 hour permits with a 2 hour and one-day
visitor permit.

 

vi) 
The introduction of a new ‘oversized vehicle’ category
for all permits, which would support economic growth by helping
local businesses operating medium and larger light goods vehicles
obtain parking permits to operate their vehicles legally.
‘Oversized vehicles’ would attract the following
surcharges in their permit price in recognition of the additional
road space they take up:

· Vehicles between 2.301-3m high, and/or
5.301-6m long, and up to 3.5 tonnes in weight: 50% surcharge

· Vehicles between 3.01-3.5m high, and/or
6.01-7.5m long, and up to 3.5 tonnes in weight: 100%
surcharges.

 

vii) 
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 25% variance), following the
statutory consultation, and 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 bands for
Newham’s parking permits and short stay parking 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.