Issue - meetings

1. To welcome the parking strategy ambition to tackle the dangerous levels of air pollution in Hammersmith & Fulham and support meeting the Council’s Net Zero 2030 targets.

2. To review the policy change options and agree with the proposals set out in this report

3. To delegate the implementation of those changes to the Executive Director of Place, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Public Realm.

4. To delegate the decision to the Executive Director of Place, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Public Realm, to review an annual increase in parking fees and charges.

The Leader introduced the report recommending policy changes that would help tackle dangerous levels of air pollution in the borough and would help deliver the Council’s Net Zero 2030 target. This report set out how to use parking charges to influence driver behaviour to meet the ambition and would bring the charges in line with other councils.

Councillor Victoria Brocklebank-Fowler stated that on this report there was no comprehensive analysis of the economic impact on businesses, the benefits to residents, the expected revenue generated and how the money would be spent or any improvements. She asked the reason for the Council to start charging electric vehicles for parking.

The Leader replied that parking charges were not increased to raise money, but they were altered to make changes to other policies, for environmental measures and to regulate traffic. The Council pioneered free electric car charging base to increase its numbers in the borough and had now more bases than anywhere else in Britain. But electric cars were not free from hazard as they still released some pollution and took up space on the road. 

Councillor Victoria Brocklebank-Fowler stated that Appendix 3 listed the results of the consultation that took place. Less than 50% agreed with the police and was based in a small response rate. She asked how this police could be put forward with such a low support rate.

The Leader responded that this was not a statutory consultation but a debate with residents on how to improve air quality and then carry on with future statutory consultations.

Councillor Adronie Alford noted her concerns about the elderly who could not afford to buy a new car. The Leader replied that they would consider a hardship fund.

AGREED UNANIMOUSLY BY THE CABINET MEMBERS:

1. To welcome the parking strategy ambition to tackle the dangerous levels of air pollution in Hammersmith & Fulham and support meeting the Council’s Net Zero 2030 targets.

2. To review the policy change options and agree with the proposals set out in this report

3. To delegate the implementation of those changes to the Executive Director of Place, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Public Realm.

4. To delegate the decision to the Executive Director of Place, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Public Realm, to review an annual increase in parking fees and charges.