Content

7.1

This report seeks approval for
the Council to close the Green Parking Permit scheme. The Council
would no longer issue new, or renew existing, Green Parking permits
from 31st July 2025.
 
Sheffield City Council is
working towards Sheffield becoming a zero-carbon city by 2030 and
supports the transition to zero emission vehicles alongside the
uptake of walking, cycling and the use of public transport. This
scheme was an appropriate part of this support when it was
introduced twenty years ago, but the ultra-low and zero-emission
vehicle market in the city and nationally has changed significantly
since the permit was first launched. Many more people have now made
the switch and the context for supporting cleaner vehicles is now
very different with the focus on the remaining key barriers to
adoption including the availability of accessible and reliable
electric vehicle charging infrastructure. This change reflects the
significant increase in the number of zero-emission vehicles now on
Sheffield’s streets and aligns with the national introduction
of Vehicle Excise Duty for electric, zero or low emission cars,
vans, and motorcycles—ensuring all drivers make a fairer tax
contribution. It also responds to the rapid uptake of ultra-low and
zero emission vehicles, which is projected to continue in the years
ahead.

 

 

7.2

RESOLVED
UNANIMOUSLY: That the Transport,
Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee:-
 

(a) 
approves that the Council no longer issue new, or
renew existing, green parking permits from 31st July
2025;
 

(b) 
notes that the Council supports the transition to
zero emission vehicles alongside walking, cycling and the use of
public transport;
 

(c) 
further notes the work that the Council is doing to
help support the transition to zero emission vehicles;
and
 

(d) 
requests that the joint Task and Finish Group
between Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee and
Waste and Street Scene Policy Committee develop an Investment Plan
to ensure that any surplus income generated is used in an
appropriate manner including for projects breaking down the
barriers to electric vehicle ownership with the allocation of
£125k towards improved electric vehicle charging
infrastructure.

 

 

7.3

Reasons for Decision

 

 

7.3.1

Ending the green parking permit
scheme, with the Council no longer issuing new, or renewing
existing, green parking permits from 31st July 2025 is proposed in
order to support a fairer and more just transition to zero emission
vehicles as the technology matures and uptake increases. Through
projects to break down the remaining barriers, alongside
improvements to public transport and efforts to encourage walking
and cycling, the Council will help to drive down emissions and
support more sustainable, inclusive travel across the
city.

 

 

7.3.2

The Council will continue to
target key barriers to the switch to electric and other zero
emission vehicles such as the sustainable roll out of
infrastructure. Exemptions from pay and display tariffs applying to
blue badge holders and motorcycles will continue to
apply.

 

 

7.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

 

 

7.4.1

Alternative Option 1:
Continue availability of Green Permit parking
indefinitely (no charge).
 
This option was rejected due to
the rapidly rising number of vehicles being licenced to which it
would apply and marginal impact that the incentive is expected to
have on the transition to electric vehicles as the market matures.
Continuing with the scheme indefinitely whilst the number of ultra
low emission vehicles continues to rise rapidly would be likely to
start to negatively impact the efficient use of space and uptake of
more active modes such as walking, cycling and use of public
transport (which as highlighted in the Climate Implications should
be avoided). In addition parking costs would be met
disproportionally by those who may not yet be able to afford an
electric (or other ultra low emission) vehicle or experience other
barriers.

 

 

7.4.2

Alternative Option 2:
Continue availability of Green Permit parking
indefinitely with associated fee.
 
This option was rejected as
whilst the fee could be utilised to pay for the administration of
the scheme and manage demand to some extent, as the cost of battery
electric vehicles falls it would be unlikely to fully mitigate the
negative impact on efficient use of space and uptake of more active
modes such as walking, cycling and use of public transport
accessing the City Centre. It would also still mean that parking
costs were met disproportionally by those who may not yet be able
to afford an electric (or other ultra low emission) vehicle or
experience other barriers.

 

 

7.4.3

Alternative Option 3:
Issue only a set number of green parking permits per
year / reduce the number of permits available over time (with /
without charge).
 
This option was rejected as it
could be seen as an unfair benefit available only to some. It would
also be unlikely to incentivise the switch to electric vehicles
once the set number of permits were taken.

 

 

7.4.4

Alternative Option 4:
Introduce a time limit for parking with a green
parking permit (with / without charge)
 
A short stay time limit could
be set to reduce the impact of the permits, meaning that they could
no longer be utilised by (all day) commuters. There could however
still be an impact in relation to journeys into the city centre for
other purposes and it could create confusion in certain
circumstances where parking is allowed for different periods to
which the permits could be used.
 
This option would somewhat
mitigate the impact on parking costs being met disproportionally by
those who may not yet be able to afford an electric (or other ultra
low emission) vehicle or experience other barriers.

 

 

7.4.5

Alternative Option 5:
Amend scope of scheme (car parks only).
 
The scope of the scheme could
be amended so that permits could only be utilised in SCC car parks
and not on street. Whilst this would help reduce pressure on on
street parking in certain locations it would not reduce the impact
of the permits on the more efficient use of space and uptake of
more active modes such as walking, cycling and use of public
transport. It could also result in additional pressure on the
availability of parking in certain locations. It would also still
mean that parking costs were met disproportionally by those who may
not yet be able to afford an electric (or other ultra low emission)
vehicle or experience other barriers.

 

 

7.4.6

Alternative Option 6:
Amend scope of to zero emission vehicles
only.
 
The scope of the scheme could
be amended so that permits were only available to the very cleanest
vehicles (for example battery electric vehicles (BEV) would still
be eligible but hybrids would not).
 
Whilst this would help reduce
the impacts outlined in the very short term by reducing the number
of vehicles eligible, BEV vehicle numbers are projected to rise
rapidly over the coming years resulting in the same issues as
outlined in the report.
 
The impact of the permits on
the switch to zero-emission vehicles is expected to be minimal
given how upfront costs are expected to fall and BEVs are now are a
less immature technology.