Proposed changes to city fees and charges helping to tackle climate change
Becoming carbon neutral by 2030
Planned changes to fees and charges in Brighton & Hove will support the city to manage congestion, improve air quality for residents and tackle the climate crisis.
Proposals for 2020/21, which look at on-street and off-street parking charges among other fees and charges, will be considered by the Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee on 21 January.
The majority of visitor parking permits are proposed to remain at the same price as well as the medium and low on-street tariff rates. Almost 80% of machines in the city will still charge £1 per hour or £5.50 for all day parking.
Any surplus generated from parking charges after direct costs is spent on concessionary bus passes for older and disabled people, subsidising bus routes, road safety and transport improvement projects.
Read our Parking Annual Report 2018/19
Chair of the Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee, Anne Pissaridou said: “We are facing a climate emergency and reducing carbon emissions is a key component of tackling this growing threat.
“The council is working hard to look at measures which will reduce those emissions, cut congestion on our roads, improve air quality and support the city’s transition to a carbon neutral economy. Changes to city fees and charges are just one of those measures.
“We’re also installing 200 electric vehicle charging points and rapid charging points for taxis, have introduced an Ultra Low Emissions Zone for buses in the city centre and we’re developing a Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan to provide better connect cycling and walking routes across the city and to neighbouring areas.”
The committee will also consider a review of parking permits which could mean greater flexibility for local businesses and traders working in the city.
The first stage of the two-year parking permit review has been looking at opportunities to modernise and consolidate permits while meeting the needs of residents, businesses and traders in the city. It has also been ensuring current permits are fit for purpose.
The changes could mean:
- Businesses being able to apply for up to four permits, an increase from the current limit of two
- Merging traders and waiver permits which will allow greater flexibility for traders for short term jobs
- Traders being able to purchase yearly, monthly, weekly and daily permits
- Ability to purchase daily permits in ‘blocks’
The findings of the second stage of the review are due to be presented to the Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee in January 2021.
