London-wide policies from City Hall could potentially undermine Newham Council’s move towards more free parking in the borough, reports Nick Clark, Local Democracy Reporter

Susan Masters (left) and Sadiq Khan (right)

A leading Newham councillor has dodged questions over whether her pledges to roll out free parking in the borough will lead to a clash with Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan.

The ruling Labour group has promised one free parking permit to every household, and an hour’s free parking across the borough for all residents.

But some residents questioned whether making changes “without the mayor of London’s consent” would be “unlawful”.

Susan Masters – the senior Labour councillor responsible for roads – replied only that the council would “take into account all relevant and material considerations”.

Newham Labour included the free parking promises during its local election campaign earlier this year. The party won the borough’s mayoral election in May, and has the largest number of councillors.

However, four borough residents asked whether these promises would contradict Khan’s London-wide policies, in questions submitted to a full council meeting on Monday (13th).

Martin Warne noted that Khan is developing plans for street-parking surcharges on larger vehicles. He said this meant “London-wide policy directions are moving firmly towards higher charges for car use, not lower”.

Nina Schlautmann pointed to Khan’s ambition for “80% of all journeys in London to be made on foot, by cycle or using public transport by 2041”.

They both asked how the council’s free parking promises fit with City Hall’s goals.

Shabina Sultana and Josephine Grahl asked whether changes to the council’s current emissions-based parking scheme would need Khan’s approval.

They said this is because the scheme is part of the council’s measures to meet London-wide transport policy, known as its local implementation plan.

Sultana and Grahl noted that Tower Hamlets Council was told last year its decision to remove low-traffic neighbourhoods was unlawful because City Hall hadn’t approved it.

Cllr Masters did not give direct answers to any of the four questions.

In identical written answers she said: “The council and cabinet must take into account all relevant and material considerations so that any decisions they make are lawful.”

Cllr Masters did not attend the meeting, and so was not available to answer any follow-up questions.

However, in a separate written answer to a councillor she said the cabinet – the council’s committee of leading councillors – would be presented with an “options report” on parking permits in September.

This was in response to Newham Independents councillor Tamzied Khan, who supports the free parking permits, and asked when they would be implemented.

Cllr Masters revealed last week that the two pledges would not be part of a planned review of the borough’s parking rules.

She said Labour was “100% committed to what we promised” but that the two pledges were “bound by separate legal guidance”.

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