We don’t seem to have a thread on this.
Important discussion at today’s Full Council Meeting.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Debate!
Workplace Parking Levy - WPL
(49 posts)-
Posted 1 year ago #
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Motoring income
Two issues with the Councillor's claim around that:
1. Various bits of transport legislation (e.g. Section 55 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984) requires any income from various local motoring charges and fines to be reinvested in transport infrastructure. "Motoring income" is also "transport investment".
2. Applying a market mechanism to manage demand for a non-essential, finite resource is not a bad thing. The Council is hardly the only organisation that charges for parking in central Edinburgh. Why should the public sector, charged with managing resources paid for by everyone, uniquely deprive itself of an income stream. Where do you draw the line? Is it fair that the Council owns theatres that charge for tickets? Does that not discriminate against the less well off, depriving them of access to cultural resources?
Posted 1 year ago # -
Just in
“
The development of regulations and guidance on implementing a WPL scheme supports the vision and priorities set out in the National Transport Strategy (NTS2) and progresses Scotland’s commitment to reach net-zero by 2045.
“
https://www.transport.gov.scot/news/empowering-local-authorities-to-tackle-climate-change/
Posted 1 year ago # -
“
#WorkplaceParkingLevy #edinwebcast
Council ran out of time so voted with no debate
#WPL motion amended by Lib Dems wins by 41-12
For: SNP 19, LD 12, Green 10
Against: Lab 12
'No Action': Tories 9No Lab/Con/LD coalition!!
So #WPL work continues with *big* majority
“
https://twitter.com/spokeslothian/status/1542544657971806208
Posted 1 year ago # -
“
A WPL would be designed to encourage more use of public transport, cut car miles in the city, reduce emissions and ease congestion. Transport convener Scott Arthur said: “The WPL has generated £9m income for Nottingham, but it’s less clear what it has done for congestion.” He said there was evidence of “suppressed demand” for parking so that even if some staff were deterred from taking their car into work, the parking spaces they vacated were then taken up by other people, resulting in the same levels of traffic.
“
Posted 1 year ago # -
So the worst that could happen is traffic doesn't really reduce, but the Council gains an annual income stream for transport investment estimated at between £5m and £14.9m. I'm struggling to see the down side - hell, some of it could even pay for potholes repairs.
Posted 1 year ago # -
“I'm struggling to see the down side“
SA might have to admit he’s wrong?
Or going against SLab policy? (OK maybe that wouldn’t trouble him…)
Posted 1 year ago # -
“
#EdinWebCast #WPL
Voting complex!
Con - opposing WPL - defeated 9/2
Lab - supporting the WPL report and consultation, but subject to relevant unions agreeing the WPL proposals - 2
LibDem/SNP/Green - full support to go ahead with next steps - 7
So next steps to go ahead
“
https://twitter.com/SpokesLothian/status/1631272573009788931
Posted 1 year ago # -
Not convinced Scott Arthur understands how it works? https://twitter.com/cllrscottarthur/status/1631375152196755460
“I was disappointed that opposition Councillors blocked my plan to give trade unions a far bigger say on the development of a Workplace Parking Levy.
Afterall, trade unions represent the teachers, cleaners & office workers that will have to pay the levy.”
Posted 1 year ago # -
I’m more concerned that he has no understanding of how all the things he *says* he wants - better (conditions for) walking/cycling/PT (plus the necessary funding) work (or should/need to) with things like CEC’s policy for vehicle mileage reduction.
Part of his brain seems to be happy to promote stuff (notably on Twitter) designed to annoy people, while the rest is actively stalling on things that might upset ‘motorists’.
I understand his concerns about people who ‘have to’/feel they must own a car to get to work.
BUT this all highlights opportunities for more suitable transport options that are partly unavailable due to decades of providing for car users - resulting in fewer buses/services and less attractive ones due to excess traffic.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Whatever this means -
“
I was testing how serious opposition Cllrs were about putting working people "at the heart" of their plans.
“
https://mobile.twitter.com/cllrscottarthur/status/1631566170334584833?
Think it reinforces my previous post.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I would argue it is entirely reasonable to consult on the specific design of a Workplace Parking Levy scheme, but not on whether such a scheme should go ahead. That is a decision for councillors, many elected on a manifesto which included a commitment to introduce a Levy. Time for a bit of political leadership.
Posted 1 year ago # -
There's some good chat just now at today's TEC on the Workplace Parking Levy
Webcast at https://democracy.edinburgh.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=136&MId=6732&Ver=4
Posted 7 months ago # -
“
#Edinwebcast
#WorkplaceParkingLevy #WPL
Report-->https://democracy.edinburgh.gov.uk/documents/s60982/EWPL%20Update.pdf…Officer says that to meet Council 2030 #trafficreduction and #NetZero targets, strong
#DemandManagement is absolutely essentialFor example #WPL or #CongestionCharging
“
https://twitter.com/spokeslothian/status/1702260696837194226
Posted 7 months ago # -
Urgh. Cllr Arthur wants to "put the various options to the public"
AKA another consultation / referendum / veto
All because the Unions don't want it...
Where's the leadership?
Posted 7 months ago # -
That IS his ‘leadership’…
But yes
Weak and indecisive and showing complete lack of understanding - beyond base politics - or any sense of urgency/need to rollback on 60 years of car dependency.
Posted 7 months ago # -
Cllr Danny Aston talks in favour of the WPL:
Freeing low-paid workers from the costs of car dependency...
Posted 7 months ago # -
GOOD!
Posted 7 months ago # -
“
Amend'ts->democracy.edinburgh.gov.uk/documents/s609…
@CllrScottArthur not ideologically against, but wants consultn postponed until details of #LowPaidWorkers mitigation
@DAstonSNP says consultn urgent given 2030 targets, and will show mitigations needed
“
https://twitter.com/spokeslothian/status/1702263632816480327
Posted 7 months ago # -
The report by the administration, plus the SNP and Greens amendments passed
Good result!
Posted 7 months ago # -
Addendum by SNP group:
1.2 Agrees to proceed to engagement and consultation as set out in 5.1.
1.3.1 Acknowledges the strategic importance of the City Mobility Plan’s commitment to a 30% reduction in car kilometres by 2030. This must extend to regular and frequent reporting of progress towards that target in order to assist the Council in identifying what policy solutions, such as a Workplace Parking Levy or a congestion charge, are needed to address Edinburgh’s severe congestion problems and to meet the challenges of the
climate crisis.1.3.2 Agrees therefore that the annual progress towards the target of a 30% reduction is car kilometres by 2030 will be reported on an annual basis in the Annual Performance Report to the Policy and Sustainability Committee, with the figure for the last reporting year to have concluded to be included in the next Transport and Environment Committee Business Bulletin.
Posted 7 months ago # -
“
#Edinwebcast #WorkplaceParkingLevy
Cllr @kevin_lang #LibDem says consultn needed to develop #WPL options
Cllr @KayleighFONeill/@julebandel @scottishgreens say WPL will reduce inequalities; most #lowpaid workers use bus walk cycle. Consultn will help develop mitigations where needed
“
https://twitter.com/spokeslothian/status/1702266310598467586
‘To be fair’ this is ‘normal’ Edinburgh glacial progress…
At least (theoretically) CEC is moving towards accepting WPL as necessary.
Posted 7 months ago # -
Addendum by Green group:
After 1.1 insert:
1.2 Reiterates approval of going forward to an initial consultation on the general principles of a Workplace Parking Levy (WPL).
1.3 Recognises the necessity for measures to promote a cultural and modal shift from solo car use towards more sustainable travel options which will have a positive impact on our environment and also on people with marginalised identities – notably workers who come from a low-income background, women, disabled people, elderly people and ethnic minority groups – all of whom are more likely to travel by public transport anyway.
1.4 Acknowledges outstanding concerns and the possibility for misunderstandings raised in the Integrated Impact Assessment but recognises the wide range of possible mitigations available.
1.5 Recognises the need for the consultation to clearly communicate the aims, scope, and potential benefits of a WPL and asks that the consultation should explore views on these mitigations as well as what workers would like the money to be spent on.
Posted 7 months ago # -
“
#Edinwebcast #WorkplaceParkingLevy
Voting...
7 (SNP/Green/LibDem) Go ahead with #WPL consultn
2 (Lab) Postpone consultn
2 (Con) Scrap the whole idea@CllrScottArthur says that SNP/Green/LibDem will be involved in consultation design, to be as transparent as possible
“
Posted 7 months ago # -
according to appendix 2.. expectation is reports and consultations done by "early 2025" impressively glacial and probably over optimistic
Assume no updates on bus lanes going 7-7-7 since last June when they said 2 years
Posted 7 months ago # -
“
In your rather selective presentation of WPL @CllrScottArthur you’ve failed to mention that the levy is on employers, who then choose whether to pass it onto employees. If I remember correctly around 50% of Nottingham employers DID NOT pass it onto employees.
“
Posted 7 months ago # -
“
Revisiting this at Transport Committee and evidence from Nottingham still suggests an increase in congestion after Car Park tax.
#Edinburgh #Conservatives still against it. Labour have now joined us.
SNP want to use it as a “truncheon” against workers!
“
https://twitter.com/councillorcowdy/status/1702386121303363591
Posted 7 months ago #
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