The Cabinet Member Signing meeting was scheduled to discuss proposed changes to parking fees and charges for the 2026-2027 financial year. This included a review of various permit charges and car park tariffs across the borough.

Review of Parking Fees and Charges 2026-2027

The meeting was scheduled to consider a review and approval of parking fees and charges for the 2026-2027 financial year. The council undertakes an annual review of these fees and charges on a full cost recovery basis. While Cabinet had previously approved the overall parking fees and charges for the upcoming financial year on 9 December 2025, some proposed increases were omitted from that report. This meeting was to seek approval for those specific increases, detailed in Appendices II (a), (b), and (c) of the report.

The report recommended agreeing to increases in parking charges proposed in Appendix II (a) and (b), subject to statutory notification, with these charges to be levied from 1 April 2026. It also recommended agreeing to increases in Appendix II (c), subject to the outcome of statutory consultation, with these charges to be levied from 1 August 2026. Authority was to be delegated to the Head of Highways and Parking to progress the necessary statutory notifications and consultations, and to make traffic management orders, with the option to refer matters back to Cabinet if significant objections arose.

The rationale for the proposed increases is to ensure full cost recovery for parking charges and to align them with charges in other London Boroughs. The council's authority to set these charges is defined by the Road Traffic Regulation Act (RTRA) 1984, which stipulates that charges cannot be levied solely to raise revenue and must be proportionate to the costs of administration and enforcement. Section 122 of the RTRA places a duty on the council to secure the expeditious, convenient and safe movement of vehicular and other traffic (including pedestrians) and the provision of suitable and adequate parking facilities on and off the highway. The council aims to meet this duty by setting charges that manage parking demand, thereby improving the road network and environmental benefits.

The report highlighted that parking policies contribute to the council's Corporate Delivery Plan 2024-2026, specifically supporting the Responding to the Climate Emergency theme by aiming to improve air quality, reduce road casualties, and enhance disabled parking facilities. It was noted that reduced vehicle emissions through managed parking can decrease congestion and carbon footprints, while encouraging modal shift towards more sustainable transport options.

The proposed increases were detailed across several appendices:

• Appendix II (a) and (b): These appendices outlined proposed increases for parking permit charges and surcharges. An inflationary increase of 3.8% was proposed for these charges. The tables show proposed charges for 2026/27 compared to 2025/26 rates, broken down by vehicle size, fuel type, CO2 emission band, and permit duration (12 months and 6 months). A diesel surcharge was also detailed, with a proposed increase from 25% to 30% for permit surcharges.
• Appendix II (c): This appendix detailed proposed changes to car park charges. The review sought to deliver consistency in service offers and took into account the unique characteristics of each car park. This included introducing event day charges for car parks in the Tottenham area to address pressures from events at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The review also considered operating costs, the cost of sustainable travel alternatives, and charges levied by other boroughs, particularly those with major event stadiums. A diesel surcharge was proposed to increase from 25% to 30% for all pay-and-display charges. The appendix provided a table detailing current and proposed charges for various car parks, including Westerfield Road, Garman Road, Stoneleigh Road (A, B, and C), Somerset Road, Brunswick Road, Lawrence Road, Crouch Hall, Summerland Gardens, and Bury Road, with specific details on operating hours and annual season ticket prices.

The report also addressed the council's commitment to supporting vulnerable residents, outlining concessions such as free parking for Blue Badge holders in various bays, free virtual disabled residential parking permits, free 'Care at Home' permits, and discounted visitor permits for disabled residents or those aged 65 and over. The Equality Impact Assessment conducted for the main fees and charges report did not identify any direct or indirect discrimination for groups with protected characteristics. The council stated that parking controls and charging policies are designed to benefit all residents through reduced congestion and improved air quality, with concessions in place to mitigate the impact of increased charges on low-income groups.