Workplace parking tax rejected

Decision follows C-charge ‘no’ vote

EMPLOYEES in Oldham will not face a tax on their parking spaces at work — and their bosses need not fear supplementary business rates to pay for public transport improvements.

Councillor Howard Sykes and the leaders of the Greater Manchester’s nine other districts have rejected both ideas following the overwhelming congestion charge “no” vote in December.

They were considered only briefly by the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA) as alternatives to congestion charging which would have earned them a £3bn transport boost through the government’s Transport Innovation Fund (TIF).

Trafford Council leader Susan Williams said: “There has already been a lot of concern expressed by the Chamber of Commerce.

“In the current economic climate, a workplace parking charge just would not work and supplementary business rates should be parked unless the business community comes forward and says that it wants it.”

Manchester City Council leader Sir Richard Leese said: “My authority objects to the idea of supplementary business rates.”

But Sir Richard, who campaigned enthusiastically for congestion charging, warned: “If we do want to have major transport improvements, at some point in the future we are going to have to have a debate about how we are going to find the money.

“And at some point, the residents of Greater Manchester will not be able to duck the issue.”

Legislation is going through Parliament which would allow a supplement of up to 2p in the pound on business rates on properties with a rateable value of over £50,000.

A report by Sir Howard Bernstein and GMPTE chief executive David Leather said the total potential annual income from the rate would be around £38m in 2010, rising to £45m per annum by 2015.

The report adds that a small-scale workplace parking levy, charging £185 a year at first and covering 17,000 spaces in Manchester city centre, could generate around £4.4m a year by 2015.