A report providing the Sub-Committee with the information to make a decision as to whether to procced with the proposed emissions based charging scheme.

The Sub-Committee considered a report that sought to modernise pay and display parking and introduce emissions-based charging for parking and residents permits across the Borough in support of wider policy objectives around air quality, health and climate.  The following appendices were attached to the report:

The report explained that a report on changes to Parking Services had been submitted to Policy Committee on 20 January 2025 (Minute 52 refers) that set out proposals to introduce emissions-based charging for on and off-street parking, resident and all other parking permits across the Borough.  The proposal to introduce Emissions-Based Charging (EBC) was expected to elicit strong opinions and, to gauge support, an informal consultation has been conducted in March 2025.  Nearly 10,000 residential properties, as well as businesses and other permit holders affected had had the opportunity to respond of which 275 had done so.  64% of respondents had strongly agreed or agreed that they were concerned about the effects of air quality on the health of their children or family and a similar number (61.8%) had been concerned about the impact on their own health.  In summary, a ratio of almost 2 to 1 had expressed concern about the impact of air quality on not only their health but, also on the health of their family.  There had been strong opposition to linking EBC to permits, with 70% disagreeing and strongly disagreeing when asked if permit parking charges should be linked to CO2 and NOx emission levels of the vehicle.  There were also a high number of responses that suggested the proposals would impact negatively on lower income households.  Positively, while 73% had said the proposals were unlikely to change their travel behaviour, a significant proportion (20%) had said it would, meaning that potentially this approach could result in a significant shift in modal choice and result in positive air quality impacts.

The report stated that with regard to Pay and Display Tariffs, the planned introduction of new machines that would record Vehicle Registration Mark (VRM), meant there was an opportunity to link to Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency (DVLA) data on tail pipe emissions.  Data on vehicle type was already collected through the RingGo pay by phone system and the data enabled the Service to identify a vehicle fuel type.  This information could be used to model a charging regime targeted at the most polluting vehicles with the primary objective being to encourage those with the most polluting vehicles to choose other modes of transport.  RingGo data for Reading had shown that 88% of all vehicles using the parking app were either petrol or diesel and only a small percentage (6%) were Ultra Low Emission Vehicles.  The proposal was that a percentage charge was added to on-street parking tariffs for the most polluting vehicles, based on the addition of 20% for petrol and 25% for diesel on a sliding scale of charging based on carbon dioxide emissions.  Westminster and Lambeth Councils had both recently introduced emissions-based charging schemes; Westminster had levied 67% on diesels and a range of 15% to 100% on non-diesels.  Lambeth had levied a 75% charge on diesel vehicles.  The Council had started at a lower percentage uplift but, this would be subject to future review to continue encouraging and incentivising less polluting vehicles. 

Recognising the tail pipe emission benefits of Electric Vehicles meant that they would not pay any additional tariff to encourage take up and reflect the delivery programme of the Council’s EV Strategy, which would further support sustainable growth.  As more data was gathered about the types of vehicles using the parking service, a review of tariffs would be carried out two years after the scheme had been introduced to address any imbalances within the system.

The report stated that it was proposed to introduce emissions-based charging in October 2025, following roll out of the new machines and completion of the necessary legal processes.

Finally, with regard to permits, the report stated that in 2024/25 the Council had issued 30,648 permits of all types.  Post Covid, there had been a positive shift in the reduction of second vehicle permits issued to residents however, analysis of vehicle emissions had indicated a slow transition to lower emissions vehicles.  Whilst affordability and availability were a clear factor in residents’ choice to transition to ultra-low emissions vehicles, the impact on air quality, particularly in densely packed town centre locations, was significant.  It was therefore proposed to introduce an Emission Based Charging regime as set out in Appendix 2 attached to the report.

Resolved –

(1)       That subject to statutory consultation, the Executive Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services, in consultation with Lead Councillor for Climate Strategy and Transport and Assistant Director Legal and Democratic Services, be granted authority to introduce emissions-based charging for:

(a)       On street pay and display;

(b)       Resident parking permits and all other parking permits;

(2)       That subject to no objections being received, the Assistant Director of Legal and Democratic Services be granted authority to make:

(a)       The Traffic Regulation Order for the introduction of emissions-based charging for on street pay and display;

(b)       The Traffic Regulation Order for the introduction of emissions-based charging for Resident parking permits and all other parking permits;

(3)       That should formal objections be received officers submit a report to a future meeting of the Sub-Committee for consideration.