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Parking perk cut for Wolverhampton council staff in £300k savings bid

Free parking is set to be scrapped for Wolverhampton councillors and hundreds of council staff under new plans that will rake in £300,000.

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At present ward councillors and almost 500 staff benefit from free parking in the city centre.

But under new proposals, all staff and councillors will have to pay for parking.

Bosses say the charges will pay for maintaining the car parks and improving security.

Wolverhampton council is trying to save £134 million over five years and today city environment chief, Councillor Steve Evans said it was 'about time' councillors paid to park.

A report which will be considered by the authority's cabinet (resources) panel next week states: "The demand for parking from council employees restricts the availability of parking for visitors and businesses within the city centre, which in the longer term could have a negative impact on the regeneration aspirations for Wolverhampton.

"However, charging employees for parking would achieve real income for the council that could be used to maintain car parks, improve security and increase premium parking availability for customers."

Current records show that 22 employees park for free in the Civic Centre, 65 on St Peter's car park, 24 medical passes are in use for human resources and occupational health and 373 passes are in use on other car parks.

Under the new proposals, staff who meet new business use criteria will pay a reduced charge of £200 a year.

Councillors will also have to pay £200 a year for parking on the ceremonial car park. The permit will also allow parking on any council car park in the city when on council business. Councillors who require parking facilities less than six times a month will get a 25 per cent reduction.

Councillor Evans said: "We are not forcing anybody to pay to park, but I think what we are saying is that all the other staff have to pay to park and they shouldn't be treated any differently.

"People who travel into the city have to pay to park, people who travel on the buses have to pay and i think it is the least councillors should be doing in the current climate.

"The budget challenge is two-fold. One is about making services more efficient so we save money in the way we deliver services and it is about what revenue we can bring in and both of those hope to close the gap with the funding that has been taken away from us by the Government.

"This will yield around £300,000 a year which would make a contribution towards that funding gap that has been created by the loss of grant which is significant."

Staff who do not meet the criteria for business use will get access to subsidised charges to car parks, including £21 a month for parking at Oxford Street and £59 a month at St Peter's car park.

No decisions will be made until consultation has taken place with staff and trade unions.

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