£50 charge for a permit to park?

Oldham Council is to consider plans to introduce an annual £50 charge for future residents’ parking schemes.

Cabinet members will debate the fee for all new schemes at its next meeting on Wednesday.

Several residents’ parking permit systems are in operation across the borough and the costs of administering them is absorbed by the council.

But the council says this is a growing burden on shrinking resources which increases with each new scheme.

Several new residents’ parking schemes are being developed and the council says budget pressures will grow unless it finds alternative ways to cover costs.

Elaine McLean, executive director for economy, place and skills, said: “Residents, carers and businesses are currently issued with permits free of charge with the administration charges absorbed by Oldham Council.”

“However, like every other local authority in the country, we are having to examine every area of our business in the current economic climate to ensure that our services are sustainable and also represent value for public money to council taxpayers as a whole.

“If approved by Cabinet, this new annual fee would be used to cover the associated costs of public consultation, management and the issuing of permits where such a scheme is requested.”