Councillor freebie parking perk to be scrapped – replaced with a 28p a day permit option

A free town centre parking scheme for councillors is set to be scrapped and replaced with £100 annual permit – costing around 28p per day.

Sometimes seen as a hot potato by members of the public, there have been calls for the free car parking for councillors and some council staff to be revoked for several years. There has also been criticism of unfairness from some, with such a scheme not available to all council employees.

A report due before executive board members next Tuesday outlines details of the parking policy in place at the moment, explaining: “Current data indicates that approximately 495 employees, including senior officers and Members, are issued with car parking permits for the town centre for the purpose of carrying out Council business.

“The current provision is linked to historical entitlement and there has been criticism from Trade Unions and employees about the perceived inequality of the current scheme.

“All other town centre based employees make their own personal arrangements to park.”

Last autumn Wrexham Council undertook their annual ‘Difficult Decision’s budget process, with one potential money saver / generator proposed being the scrapping of the free parking in the Guildhall car park.  It was estimated at the time that this could make revenue savings of £49,000 .

It has since been shown in post consultation ‘You Said We Did’ documents that the proposal received the highest approval rating in the entire consultation from the public. The responses were previously published with the summary table below, indicating the most support for ‘staff / members should pay when public have to’ and the lowest for a ‘minimal charge / concessionary rate’.

                                      Consultation responses on scrapping free councillor car parking

In January 2018 Wrexham.com reported at the time the administration of Wrexham Council were looking at bringing in parking charges for disabled people and at country parks, they acknowledged the current freebie perk of parking for themselves was no longer acceptable.

The details have now been revealed, with the proposed introduction of an’Employee and Member Parking Permit Scheme with a monthly or annual charge for both employees and Elected Members’.

This would cost £100 a year and would “apply equally to council employees and elected members who wish to park in one of the Council’s town centre civic offices and pay and display car parks.”

The £100 permit is explained further in next week’s report, which states: “The proposal is to introduce an Employee and Member Parking Permit Scheme with a monthly/annual charge.

“The charges will apply equally to Council employees and Elected Members who wish to park in one of the Council’s civic office and pay and display car parks and will have the option to: Purchase a car parking permit, for use within designated town centre car parks;  Use pay and display parking, at the appropriate tariff for the car park being used.

“The proposal is looking at a potential permit charge of approximately £100 per year for both employees and Elected Members.

“The detail of the scheme, however, will be worked up following comments received from employees, Trade Unions, Political Group Leaders and non-aligned Members.”

Currently if the public look to apply for a Waterworld Car Park Season Ticket that is valid for six months they will be charged £300, with no option for a full £600 yearly sum. This is roughly £1.65 a day based off the year price.

For those wanting a cheaper option, but further to walk from the Guildhall area, a six month season ticket for Crescent Road is £200, again no option for a £400 yearly option.  This is roughly £1.10 a day, based off the year price.

Cllr Hugh Jones told us the move was ‘responding to a very clear message from the public’ in the consultation, with Council Leader Mark Pritchard echoing the thoughts saying the feedback had ‘come back loud and clear’. Cllr Pritchard said: “We have to show leadership, they have to pay, so why shouldn’t we?”

It was pointed out by leading councillors that the Administration is looking to implement the plan, assuming support is found for the plans, however what each councillor does is up to them.

Explaining the £100 price point, it was noted the figure could be higher as well as lower (we are told Flintshire are the only other council in Wales who charge – £12.) and the sum is aimed at ‘not being too much of a financial burden’.

Cllr David Bithell noted that staff and members will be asked to use the permit scheme, however people can use the normal priced ticket machines if they wish, adding: “Elected members can legitimately claim it back. I won’t be claiming it though.”

Cllr Pritchard and Cllr Jones also indicated they would not be looking to claim the fee for parking back, with Cllr Jones saying that decision was up to each councillor and there was ‘nothing we can do about that’.

The Executive Board will likely agree to “…support the principle to introduce an Employee and Member Parking Permit Scheme and agree to share the proposals and seek views from employees, the recognised Trade Unions, Political Group Leaders and nonaligned Members”, and permit delegated work to take place after that has taken place to make the dream a reality.

Top pic: Twenty eight pence.