Council leader’s vow not to bring in parking levy

Claim workplace charges represent an ‘immoral tax’

There is little prospect of workplace parking charges for authority staff and teachers across Tayside and Fife in the immediate future.

In the wake of a Holyrood decision to make a levy option available under new legislation, councils have sounded a note of caution.

The Transport Bill measures were approved by MSPS after two days of debate this week, overcoming a late attempt to remove the workplace levy.

Supporters hope the measures will allow councils to tackle issues including air pollution and city congestion.

Angus Council coalition chief David Fairweather said the move would not happen “under my watch”.

The Arbroath independent said the workplace parking levy will not be part of his administration’s budget discussions.

He said savings may have to be found from other areas of the authority’s operation, which has battled a £33 million budget gap in recent years and is faced with finding a further £25m reduction in the next two years.

“At the end of the day, whatever we have to do to safeguard our staff from what I believe is an immoral tax, we will do,” said the leader.

“As an administration, when this was first mooted by the SNP we spoke about it at length and were in agreement that this was not something we would consider introducing.”

A Fife Council spokeswoman said the local authority’s joint SNP/LAB administration passed a motion in March agreeing not to introduce the workplace parking levy in the kingdom.

That motion noted the stance could only be guaranteed until the next local elections.

The motion rejected Conservative calls to write to other local authorities asking them to follow Fife’s lead.

Dundee City Council leader John Alexander said his administration’s opposition to the levy could only last as long as he is leader, but he does not believe it could ever be used to positive effect in the city.

He said: “At the next council election, people will vote for the administration they want and it isn’t beyond the realms of possibility that this could be a different form from the current administration, or another party may wish to introduce it.

“I have no plans to bring such a levy in whilst I’m leader of Dundee City Council.”

A spokesperson for Perth and Kinross Council said: “This will be considered by the council once further details become available.”