Cash back for eco councillors
Councillors on e-scooters and buses could become a common sight in Palmerston North with the city council deciding to reimburse their fares and hire fees.
Proposed by sustainability committee chairman Brent Barrett and supported by mayor Grant Smith, the move to encourage the use of public transport and micro-mobility options won almost unanimous support from the council.
Barrett said he was delighted to see Palmerston North taking a stand to encourage flexibility and choice in people’s transport options.
While no calculations had been done about how much the move might cost, Barrett believed it could help earn the council more money through parking fees.
At the moment, councillors cannot claim petrol expenses for driving around the city, but they are entitled to an exemption card that allows them to park for free in metered spaces in the central city.
Barrett said the value of that exemption could add up to ‘‘an easy grand’’ in a year.
It would more than make sense to repay a councillor $1 for a bus fare as it would free up a parking space for someone prepared to pay $1.70 an hour.
He said he had turned down the parking exemption card as he usually travelled by bike or bus, or more recently, on a scooter.
But he did not suggest other councillors should have to leave their cars parked at home or give up their free parking privileges.
‘‘It’s important that we have flexibility and choice, rather than curtail other things.’’
‘‘It gives us an opportunity to be leading by example in our use of transport options.’’ Brent Barrett
He said there would always be circumstances when using the car was the practical choice.
The way the system would work was that councillors would have to pay fares or hireage themselves, and submit receipts for approval from time to time.
Barrett said he probably would not bother lodging claims because of the administration, but being able to would be important for some.
He said he was genuinely surprised by the broad support the move received from councillor colleagues after a similar proposal was tested and failed three years ago. ‘‘It gives us an opportunity to be leading by example in our use of transport options.’’
Smith said the move was likely to come at a very low cost, and such a simple thing could contribute to lowering the city’s carbon emissions through encouraging use of active or public transport.
Deputy mayor Debi Marshall-Lobb said the small payment provided currency for the council.
It offered flexibility, it was efficient, she said.
Cr Karen Naylor said she initially had reservations about paying for bus and micromobility transport when there was no payment for petrol for those who used cars, but the value of freeing up car parks for paying users helped convince her.