New parking permit fees could be late addition to budget proposals

Rochdale Council could bring in new charges for residents’ parking permits in a bid to generate more money for the cash-strapped authority’s coffers.

At present, permits for the borough’s eight schemes are free of charge, with eligible households and businesses entitled to two passes which expire every two years.

But plans to introduce the fees, which would bring in an extra £13,400 every two years, were put out to consultation last July, together with three other savings proposals.

Whilst cuts to community centres and social and welfare advice were signed off by the council in December – cuts to homelessness prevention services were dropped – parking permit proposals were put on hold ‘pending further review’.

However, they are now set to go before cabinet members for approval on Tuesday, just 24 hours before the budget-setting meeting for the coming financial year.

The 11th hour proposals would mean that households and businesses eligible for the borough’s eight residents-only schemes would pay £25 for their first permit, while a second would be free.

Officials say the council currently has to process up to 2,170 permits every two years, with the administration cost falling on the authority.

And while the savings for the council are relatively modest, council leader Allen Brett says that ‘every little helps’ in the battle to balance the books.

The consultation results showed residents were overwhelmingly against the scheme – with more than 75% of the 176 respondents indicating they either ‘disagreed or strongly disagreed’ with the charges.

However, this was on the basis of residents being able to apply for up to four parking permits per-household.

And the council says ‘a large proportion’ of responses were in objection to allowing more cars within parking zones, as it would be self-defeating.

Savings of £13,400 are dependent on 95% of eligible households and businesses signing up to the scheme, but Councillor Brett says he does not expect that to be a problem.

“We have had such extensive lobbying, I expect a very high take-up,” he said.

And he says that the £25 fee will give them the right to park outside – or near – their homes, something that is not enshrined in law.

He said: “You don’t have a right to park outside your house, you have a right to park on the highway. But in this case we were giving them a right to park outside their house, because it’s a residents’ permit scheme.”

He added that he expected some would object to having to pay to park near their homes.

The eight schemes, under which 1,085 homes and businesses are eligible for permits, are split across the borough.

There are three in Middleton – Latrigg Crescent, Millfold Road and Beech Street/Burton Street – and two in Heywood at Heap Bridge and Marlor Court.

Rochdale has two zones at the railway station and Church Stile, while there is also a scheme at Hollingworth Lake, in the Pennines.

The largest scheme is at Latrigg Crescent, where 389 properties are eligible for permits.

Nick Statham, Local Democracy Reporter