Car park tax worries need addressed

Complex government budget announcements are often overshadowed by one measure that dominates the agenda in the following days, weeks and months. Sometimes it is a serious issue, such as George Osborne’s infamous 2011 raid on North Sea oil and gas producers, while on other occasions it is a relatively inconsequential matter, like the same chancellor’s “pasty tax” the next year. In Scotland this year, the fall-out from Derek Mackay’s budget has focused on the workplace “car park tax”. The powers, which allow councils to charge firms a fee for every parking space they provide, were passed into law yesterday. The initiative was agreed despite a vocal campaign from opponents who argued it would penalise hardworking staff who had already borne the brunt of the spending squeeze. W ith a backlash guaranteed, most councils have ruled the levy out. However, it remains to be seen how long they will be able to resist the temptation to cash in, particularly as the controversy dies down and funding dries up. The climate emergency, of course, also looms larger with almost every passing day, and decision-makers are increasingly obliged to act. Legitimate practical concerns about its implementation remain, however, especially in large rural areas. They would have to be addressed before councils in northern Scotland could look again at the idea, even if attentions are by then preoccupied by whatever new “tax” has just been unveiled.

“The initiative was agreed despite a vocal campaign from opponents”