Changes to low-emission vehicle discounts to save cash in York received cross-party support.
The council has approved changes to vehicle emission permit discounts to ultra-low emission vehicles – those with an emission level of 0 to 75g/km – to deliver required savings of £50,000 a year.
Currently, the low-emission parking permit discount in York is available for light passenger vehicles with a low CO2 emission figure that qualifies the vehicle for a reduced rate of vehicle tax.
It’s also available for vehicle tax bands A to C and electric or liquid propane gas-powered vehicles – but this won’t be the case following the decision.
Cllr Pete Kilbane, transport executive said the decision was because the council needs to make “in-year and future-year savings.”
He said: “The direction of travel on this is to remove discounts for low-emission vehicles altogether because eventually, all vehicles will be low emission, we hope.”
Cllr Stephen Fenton, York Liberal Democrats’ spokesperson for transport said: “A review of resident parking permit discounts was factored into the budget agreed by the Lib Dem-led administration back in February, so we are pleased to see that this work has now been completed.
“The decision to restrict the discount to ultra-low emission vehicles simplifies what is currently a complicated scheme, encourages the use of ultra-low or zero-emission vehicles, and delivers a budget saving for the council at a time when resources are very stretched.”
