Councillors start to buy parking permits – however get a three week grace period of no enforcement

Councillors are finally starting to pay for their parking, although the tough new permit system has been brought in in a slightly softer manner than the public would get.

The new parking arrangements were due to come into place on May 1st however that appears to have been delayed by a week, and unlike members of the public who don’t get a permit or ticket when they park in council carparks, councillors have been given a period of no enforcement to get their act together.

An internal information update to councillors reads, “As you will know the staff and Member parking scheme came into place on 7th May.”

“In these first few weeks, we have been giving the scheme an opportunity to bed-in, and giving people an opportunity to purchase their permits prior to beginning any enforcement. However, from 1st June we will begin enforcement.

“Therefore if you wish to park in the Guildhall car park, but have not yet purchased a permit, you will need to do so before the end of May.”

Councillors are due to pay around 39p a day for prime town centre parking, a sum we have previously been told is aimed at ‘not being too much of a financial burden’ for them.

The introduction of staff/member parking fees was listed as generating a possible £49,000 a year in a document before a Scrutiny committee in October however that does depend on uptake. In the internal email we have seen it notes 39 Elected Members have purchased a permit, and more than 200 employees so far.

If you want to read more about the figures behind the move – you can read this article from last month.