Issue - meetings

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Roger Mace)

Report to follow.

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Roger Mace)

The Chief Executive submitted a report presenting a review of Employee and Elected Member permits and charges.

The options, options analysis, including risk assessment were set out in the report as follows:

Option 1 was to approve the principle of an increase with a stepped increase over a number of years to reduce the gap with the full cost of the permit.  This will give employees more time to adjust to the new arrangements and to find alternative methods of travel. It is likely to result in a reduction of permits sold to staff over time but whether there would be any effect on traffic congestion and carbon emissions depends on how those staff eventually decide to travel to work.

Option 2 was to provide an option as recommended by the JCC which would reduce employee and Elected Member permits from seven day a week use to a five day a week permit. Officers propose that this should be at the current staff permit cost.  In most cases, this would involve a reduction to Monday to Friday use but would allow for use by staff who are required, for example, to work weekends as part of their 5 day working pattern.  This could be combined with limiting the use of the permit to the permit holder only.  Together this would reduce the maximum potential car parking usage by a significant amount but avoid the stepped increase set out in option 1.

A sub-option 2a would be in line with the JCC recommendation 4, to charge part time staff on a pro rata basis (number of hours worked per week divided by 37, and multiplied by the permit charge).  The permit would then be valid only for use during their working hours. It is anticipated that such an arrangement could be difficult to enforce due to the range of part time hours worked by different staff across the authority. Consideration of how this could happen would need to be undertaken should this option be chosen.     

Option 3 would be to retain the option of a seven day a week permit at a cost to be agreed that is in excess of the proposed five day permit. It should be noted that this would be in addition to the introduction of a five day permit.

Option 4 would be to review employee and Elected Member permit charges in line with the annual review of fees and charges in order to meet parking and budgetary commitments. This is effectively the “do nothing” option as it follows existing practice.

A further option (Option 5) could be combined with options 1, 2, 3 or 4, but would have further enhancements that include Green Badge parking and discounted bus travel. This may result in an increased number of fuel efficient vehicles being used by staff or a general move to public transport and is in line with the recommendations made by the JCC.

In all  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26