marctorrance wrote:@nat: I'm sure you are right.  The only problem is that councillors don't think that way.  There is very little chance that those guys will associate terminating the electric vehicle concessions with any loss of business rates.  They may simply see it as:

1) "we issued 539 season tickets so we're losing 539 x £4000 per year (£2,000,000)".
2) "we issued 496 parking permits so we're losing 496 x £4 a day x five days a week (£500,000 per year)"

But all this is just speculation.  The best approach is to get informed.  This is a good place to start:
http://www.minutes.org.uk/cgi-bin/CGI002.exe?Words=electric&DBName=MINUTES&StartAt=&EndAt=&Seq=N&CList=90&B1=Start+the+search&Path=london&Title=City%2Bof%2BLondon

No, I think you slightly misunderstand

Planning And Transportation Committee

Friday, 7 September, 2001

(ii)   Electric Vehicles

The Director of Technical Services was heard relative to an approach by Ford for the Corporation's support for their "TH!NK @bout" London initiative.  The initiative, developed in consultation with Friends of the Earth and Transport Action Powershift, promotes the use of a zero-emission electric vehicles, purpose built for city use.  The ALG had also asked that the Corporation support the principle of electric vehicles by providing free off-street parking and power charging facilities in car parks.      

RESOLVED: That it be agreed, in principle, that the Corporation provide free off street parking and charging facilities for the electric vehicles developed as part of the "TH!NK @bout" London initiative, subject to detailed proposals being agreed by the Town Clerk in consultation  with the Chairman, Deputy Chairman and the Chairman of Traffic Management and Road Safety Sub Committee.

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Planning And Transportation Committee

Tuesday, 30 April 2002

9.      Proposed Parking Concessions for the TH!NK Electric Vehicles in the City of London

A report (CIRCULATED) of the Town Clerk was considered, seeking approval for free on-street parking for TH!NK electric vehicles in the City.


RESOLVED: That, free on and off street parking within the City, accompanied by recharging facilities within Corporation car parks be approved on a trial basis, to allow the uptake and implications of this scheme to be evaluated, the details of which to be left with the relevant Officers.    

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Planning And Transportation Committee

Tuesday 18 March 2003

9b.     Continuation of Free Parking for Electric Vehicles

A report (CIRCULATED) of the City Planning Officer was considered,  bringing the subject of free parking for electric vehicles in the Corporation's public off-street car parks and the on-street parking bays in the City back to Members for consideration, following the initial trial period that commenced on 30 April 2002.      


The Town Clerk reported the views of the Traffic Management and Road Safety Sub Committee, viz that other clean, though non-electric, vehicles should be granted similar concessions but that the review of such free parking should take place far sooner than December 2005.


Members were concerned about several issues -


· Whether electric vehicles were environmentally 'clean' when the generation of electricity involved the creation of pollution elsewhere

· How free use could be said not to help relieve traffic congestion

· Whether the policies would benefit from a review - to better address what the committee was trying to achieve.


RESOLVED:        

i) Free parking in the Corporation's public off-street car parks and the on-street parking bays in the City be approved for wholly electric vehicles, but not for vehicles powered by other alternative fuels;

ii) free recharging facilities be provided in those public off-street car parks where it is practicable to provide them and where they are justified by the level of demand in that car park.

iii) Officers report back to the Traffic Management and Road Safety Sub Committee at an early date with proposals as to what the Corporation's policy towards alternatively fuelled vehicles might be, having regard to an over-arching arm to reduce traffic congestion caused by car commuting, and on what methods might be employed to support the policy.

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Planning and Transportation Committee

Tuesday, 6 June 2006

Electric Vehicle Recharging Station

In answer to a question, the City Planning Officer advised that, when granting planning permission, the City could not require the provision of power sockets for recharging electric vehicles.  He advised that service vehicles would visit City buildings for an insufficient period for recharging and that electric private vehicles should be discouraged in favour of public transport as they created as much congestion as other vehicles.

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Markets Committee

[Wednesday,] 4 July 2007


6.      SMITHFIELD MARKET– capital bid report

A report of the Director of Environmental Services relative to the proposed upgrade of the Smithfield Car Park operation was considered. The areas proposed for upgrade evaluation included Payment equipment, Staffing and Customer Care, Electronic Tariffs, Health & Safety and other improvements to parking facilities.

In answer to Members questions the Director of Environmental Services reported as follows:-

- the Planning and Transportation and the Markets Committees would review the provision of free recharging facilities for electric vehicles later in the year;

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Planning and Transportation Committee

Tuesday, 22 April 2008

14.    ELECTRIC VEHICLES: PARKING AND RECHARGING

The Committee considered a joint report of the City Planning Officer and the Director of Environmental Services relative to the provision of parking and recharging for electric vehicles.

The Director of Environmental Services stressed that the City was not against electric vehicles but that the current provisions increased congestion by encouraging the use of cars rather than public transport.

The officers noted a Member’s point that any regulations should be carefully drafted to ensure that it was clear that they also applied to the lighter vehicles that were classified as quad bikes, and that the Public Relations Officer should be briefed well to deal with any adverse publicity.

In answer to a question, the Director confirmed that the scheme was no longer a trial and that the current on-street parking arrangement would cease in 2010.

RESOLVED – That, subject to the concurrence of the Markets, Finance, and Policy and Resources Committees, it be agreed that the City of London:-

(1)   Immediately closes the free parking scheme for electric vehicles to new applicants, and therefore applies its standard charges for parking;

(2)   For existing off-street season ticket holders, phases in over a two and a half year period its standard charges for existing off-street season ticket parking;

(3)   For existing on-street permit holders, continues the concessionary on-street permit scheme until 31 December 2010, albeit with an annual administration fee to cover processing costs;

(4)   Expands the provision of free recharging facilities for electric vehicles in its City Fund off-street public car parks to 10 recharging points per car park, with the cost of installation of £10,000 and the ongoing costs of the recharging being met from the local risk budget of the Director of Environmental Services;

(5)   Provides free recharging for electric vehicles in its West Smithfield car park through the provision of 10 recharging points, with the cost of installation of £2,500 and the cost of the recharging being met from the local risk budget of the Director of Markets; and

(6)   Notes that the revenue costs of free recharging will be more than covered by the income from parking charges, but since this free recharging may represent a benefit in kind greater than £2,500 overall, the matter must also be reported to the Finance Committee.

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Markets Committee

Wednesday 7 May 2008

7.      ELECTRIC VEHICLES – PARKING AND RECHARGING

A report of the City Planning Officer and the Director of Environmental Services was considered. A Member said he was in favour of no change to the current trial so that parking charges would be kept lower for electric vehicles in order to be consistent with City policy promoting sustainability for the environment. However it was pointed out that the only matter in the report for this Committee was recommendation (v), the installation of recharging points in the West Smithfield car park. A Member raised the possibility of charging for recharging of vehicles, and was informed that charges would have to be well in excess of the cost of the electricity used to cover the cost of maintaining the collection equipment and emptying it..

RESOLVED – That:-

(i) the immediate closure of the scheme to new applicants and the application of the standard charges for parking be noted;

(ii) the phasing in of standard charges over a two and a half year period for existing off-street season ticket holders be noted;

(iii) the continuation of the concessionary on-street permit trial until 31 December 2010 for existing on-street permit holders, with an annual administration fee to cover processing costs be noted;

(iv) the expansion of the provision of free recharging facilities for electric vehicles in City Fund off-street public car parks to 10 recharging points per car park, with the cost of installation of £10,000 and the ongoing costs of the recharging being met from the local risk budget of the Director of Environmental Services be noted;

(v) the provision of free recharging for electric vehicles in the West Smithfield car park through the provision of 10 recharging points, with the cost of installation of £2,500 and the cost of the recharging being met from the local risk budget of the Director of Markets be approved; and

(vi) it be noted that the revenue costs of free recharging will be more than covered by the income from parking charges but as this free recharging may represent a benefit in kind greater than £2,500 overall, the matter must be reported also to the Finance Committee.


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Planning and Transportation Committee

Tuesday, 13 May 2008

d) Electric Vehicles – Parking and Recharging (page 2548) - The Town Clerk reported that this item had been approved by the Markets Committee and would be considered by the Policy and Resources Committee at its next meeting.

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Policy and Resources Committee

20 MAY 2008

21.     ELECTRIC VEHICLES – PARKING AND RECHARGING

The Committee considered a joint report of the City Planning Officer and the Director of Environmental Services which sought approval for changes to the current provision of free parking for electric vehicles with the scheme being phased out by the end of 2010.

The Chairman commented that whilst he had no concerns about the off-street parking proposals he was not convinced about the merits of the proposals for on-street parking.

RESOLVED: That: -

1. the Scheme allowing free parking for electric vehicles on-street and off be closed to new applicants, and as a consequence the standard charges for parking would be applied;

2. standard charges for existing off-street season ticket parking be phased in over a two and a half year period for existing;

3. the concessionary on-street permit trial be continued for existing on-street permit holders, albeit with an annual administration fee to cover processing costs;

4. the provision of free recharging facilities for electric vehicles be expanded in the City Fund off-street public car parks to 10 recharging points per car park, with the cost of installation of £10,000 and the ongoing costs of the recharging being met from Director of Environmental Services local risk budget;

5. free recharging for electric vehicles be introduced in the West Smithfield car park through the provision of 10 recharging points, with the cost of installation of £2,500 and the cost of the recharging being met from the local risk budget of the Director of Markets; and

6. it be noted that the revenue costs of free recharging would be covered by the income from parking charges, but that since the free recharging may represent a benefit in kind greater than £2,500 overall, the matter would  also be reported to the Finance Committee.

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Finance Committee

TUESDAY 27 MAY 2008

11.    ELECTRIC VEHICLES: PARKING AND RECHARGING        

A joint report of the City Planning Officer and the Director of Environmental Services relating to parking and recharging for electric vehicles in the City was considered.

A Member expressed concern at the proposal to discontinue free off-street parking for electric vehicles, suggesting that this would not be well received by present users and that it was inconsistent with the City’s environmental aims. He advised that he could not support the recommendations of the report in their current form and proposed that a discount for parking be provided to users of electric vehicles instead of charging them the full amount.

Another Member pointed out that, although he appreciated the sensitivity of these proposals, the arrangements for providing free parking for electric vehicles were no longer viable and were never intended to be permanent. The primary objective of the scheme was no longer being met, in that the growing number of users had led to increased congestion in the Square Mile instead of reducing it. Furthermore, there simply was not enough parking space in the City to continue with the provisions under this scheme.

Members continued to discuss this issue, whereupon a vote was held as follows on whether to support or reject the report’s recommendations:

For - 11

Against - 3

It was therefore agreed that the recommendations should be supported and that free off-street parking for electric vehicles in the City should be discontinued as set out in the report.

RESOLVED: That, Members agree that the City of London should;

i) immediately close the scheme to new applicants, and therefore applies its standard charges for parking;

ii) for existing off-street season ticket holders, phase in over a two and a half year period its standard charges for existing off-street season ticket parking;

iii) for existing on-street permit holders, continue the concessionary on-street permit trial until 31 December 2010, albeit with an annual administration fee to cover processing costs;

iv) expand the provision of free recharging facilities for electric vehicles in its City Fund off-street public car parks to 10 recharging points per car park, with the cost of installation of £10,000 and the ongoing costs of the recharging being met from the local risk budget of the Director of Environmental Services;

v) provide free recharging for electric vehicles in its West Smithfield car park through the provision of 10 recharging points, with the cost of installation of £2,500 and the cost of the recharging being met from the local risk budget of the Director of Markets; and

vi) note that the revenue costs of free recharging will be more than covered by the income from parking charges, but since this free recharging may represent a benefit in kind greater than £2,500 overall, the matter must also be reported to the Finance Committee.

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Planning and Transportation Committee

Tuesday, 3 June 2008

b)  Electric Vehicles – Parking and Recharging

The Director of Environmental Services advised that in order to retain more of a balance with the environmental considerations, the Policy and Resources Committee had resolved that the on-street permit holders’ arrangement be allowed to continue indefinitely.

ranger wrote:Is there any on line petition against the changes to the City car parks? I bought my EV because the sums add up, my office is in Shoreditch, I have to drive through the CC to get there etc.  I am amazed that they think it is okay to go from £0 to £2000.
I emailed CoL explaining that since I had bought my EV I use public transport MUCH MORE than when I drove my petrol car. For all its wonderful greeny bits, my little g wiz compared to a limitless range, loads of boot space petrol car is frankly absolute rubbish, but with the prospect of nearly free motoring it was a no brainer. It will be back to petrol for me if they they cannot make any further concessions.

The provision of free recharging would only represent a nett cost if all parking spaces would
otherwise be occupied by vehicles that did not make use of the recharging facilities
(conventionally powered vehicles) but this is unlikely with current relatively low levels of
occupancy across the City’s off-street public car parks.

ending the [electric vehicles parking concessions] scheme is not likely to result in a substantial increase in income to the City

marctorrance wrote:@PaulK: if you read the report, you will see that the car parks operated by the City of London are underused:

The provision of free recharging would only represent a nett cost if all parking spaces would
otherwise be occupied by vehicles that did not make use of the recharging facilities
(conventionally powered vehicles) but this is unlikely with current relatively low levels of
occupancy across the City’s off-street public car parks.

and:

ending the [electric vehicles parking concessions] scheme is not likely to result in a substantial increase in income to the City