Decision Maker: Cabinet

Outcome: Decision approved

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Date of Decision: May 6, 2025

Purpose: In December 2024, the Mayor and Cabinet agreed a series of new Clean Air Parking Charges designed to improve the borough’s air quality, protect public health, and accelerate its Just Transition Climate Action plan to achieve Net Zero within Newham by 2045.     Newham has long faced some of the poorest air quality levels in London, with residents exposed to airborne particulate matter levels a third higher than World Health Organisation guidelines, while harmful Nitrogen Dioxide (NO?) concentrations exceed UK health limits for one in seven residents. Public Health England estimates that 7.5% of deaths in Newham are attributable, in part, to air pollution.    That is why the Mayor and Cabinet are unrelenting in their commitment in encouraging walking, cycling or the use of public transport, and the safe movement of goods without polluting Newham’s streets. Encouraging the switch to greener transport choices aimed at tackling poor air quality in the borough is why the Mayor and Cabinet agreed the introduction of a borough-wide diesel surcharge in December 2024 as well.    This report seeks to complement previous decisions agreed by the Mayor and Cabinet last year, by strengthening the incentives for drivers to transition to greener vehicles, with those driving higher polluting vehicles being charged more for the CO2 emissions they make. That is fair in the context of the disproportionate health risks placed on Newham residents, who live in the second most at-risk area to extreme heat in the entirety of the UK.    

Content: Decision   For the reasons set out in the report and its appendices Cabinet RESOLVED to Agree to:   i)  A realignment of Newham’s standard CO2 emissions-based charging model, as laid out in section 4.12; ii)  An uplift in fees on Resident Permits, as laid out in section 4.23; iii)  An uplift in fees on Business Permits, as laid out in section 4.38; iv)  An uplift in fees on Charity Business Permits, and Industrial Permits, as laid out in section 4.44; v)  The introduction of a diesel surcharge on visitor permits, as laid out in 4.58; vi)  The introduction of new fees for existing visitor permits, and a new 1-hour visitor permit, as laid out in 4.99; vii)  A 23% uplift in the surcharge levied on resident permit holders where the household they reside in holds 2 or more resident permits, as laid out in section 4.109; viii)  A 20% uplift in the cost of a parking suspension bay charge, and amendment of other suspension charges, as laid out in section 4.128 and 4.129; ix)  The amendment of prices for Trade Permits, Courtesy Permits, and Carers Permits, as laid out in 4.143; and x)  That the Corporate Director for Environment and Sustainable Transport, in consultation with the lead member for Parking, be delegated the authority to approve minor changes to the proposals laid out in this report (up to 10% variance), following consultation (where required by legislation), to implement those changes as required.   Alternatives Considered   a)  Do nothing: this was considered, but rejected, as the differences in pricing between the highest and lowest charging tiers for Newham’s parking permits are insufficient to incentivise drivers to opt for the greenest vehicle that they can, and undermines the council’s commitment to improving air quality and reduce CO2 emissions in the borough.