The Levy.
On each liable parking space the levy would be in the region of £253 per year starting in 2012 and rising to around £285 at the opening of NET Phase Two, with increases linked to inflation in future years.
Discounts.
It is proposed that there would be some employers who would receive a 100% discount from the levy. They would be City of Nottingham employers with 10 or less ‘liable’ spaces, the emergency services and staff at NHS run premises. It is also proposed that certain parking spaces would not be charged for. These would be spaces that are designated for disabled people, business customers, motorbikes, display or fleet vehicles, vehicles loading or unloading and employees who live at their place of work.
Parking for customers and visitors who are not on business (e.g. people shopping or visiting leisure facilities for private purposes) is not workplace parking and is therefore outside of the scope of the WPL and would not be charged.
It would be up to each employer to decide whether to pass the charge on to their employees.
What would a WPL mean for you as an employer?
It is proposed that all City of Nottingham employers who provide workplace parking would need to apply for an annual WPL licence from October 2011.
Employers would need to apply for a licence for the maximum number of workplace parking spaces they use. These would include spaces at business premises and also those at any different addresses – including contract spaces or annual spaces in a car park.
Employers who receive a 100% discount from the levy, such as those who have 10 or less liable spaces, would still need to apply for a licence.
It is proposed that support and assistance would be available to employers applying for a licence and for general enquiries on travel planning and parking management options.
Our analysis indicates that a WPL would not have a significant impact on business investment decisions but overall would bring positive economic benefits to business.
How would you reduce your levy charge and help reduce congestion?
Employers could reduce their levy charge by using less ‘liable’ parking spaces. The City Council and the Big Wheel will support businesses with this through advising on travel planning and parking management options.
How would a WPL benefit you as an employer?
All the funds raised from the levy would be invested back into funding more and better public transport in Nottingham, which would reduce congestion.
As a result of the great success of NET Line One, Government have confirmed that they are willing to fund up to 75% of the cost of NET Phase Two – the proposed extensions of the tram system to serve Chilwell and Beeston via the QMC and Clifton via Wilford.
The remaining 25% will need to be found locally, from both the City and County Councils. It is proposed that the WPL income would make a significant contribution towards the City Council’s share of this local funding requirement.
Money raised from a WPL would also be invested in:
- More Link bus services (including the important Work Link services) and the funding needed to continue to run the existing popular Link buses which serve areas not covered by commercial public transport operators.
- Transforming Nottingham Station into a ‘Hub’ with improved connections to buses and trams and expanded passenger facilities – turning it into one of the top European transport interchanges .
- Increasing support and advice to businesses for travel planning and parking management.
These additional services and facilities would significantly benefit travelling employees as well as service and delivery vehicles. Improved accessibility would also benefit employers through access to a larger potential workforce and, in retail and leisure, to a larger potential market. Enhanced links to education facilities should in the long term generate a more skilled City workforce.