Romford Councillors Call Out Scandal Over Parking Permit Increase.

St Edwards Councillor David Taylor and St Albans Councillor Judith Holt have called the council out over its increase in parking permits after prices were doubled without residents knowing.

Havering residents have been left confused and angry after Havering Council more than doubled the cost of some residents permits, seemingly without notifying residents. The rise was approved as part of the joint HRA and Labour budget, passed in March. 

Councillor Taylor, has criticised the rise as “unjustified and underhanded” after the budget scrutiny committee were given different figures. 

“I took two days off work to pour over the 400+ pages of budget proposals for scrutiny. The proposals were clear, permits were only going to go up from £35 to £40. The very next day, Havering’s cabinet went and voted through a proposal to set the first permit at £70.

We’re constantly told that this administration is open to scrutiny, yet they have not allowed us to scrutinise their actual budget proposal”. 

It’s not uncommon for proposals to change, after committee scrutiny. However, some Councillors appeared surprised at the change. An investigation is apparently now underway. Councillor Taylor has regularly asked what the investigation will be looking at, but he has not received a response. 

Cllr Taylor also believes that the investigation is not-needed and that it’s a tactic to distract and shift blame. 

“The facts are very clear. Publicly available documents show that the Cabinet were given an addendum before their meeting. This addendum clearly outlines the new permit prices as starting at £70. The Cabinet voted for this without even discussing it. Therefore, the only conclusion I can come to is that they were trying to hide the rise of just didn’t read the papers. 
Which of those scenarios is it?”

Following the cabinet approving the budget proposals, with the increased rise, both HRA and Labour councillors then approved the budget at Full Council on March 1st. At the meeting opposition Cllr Martin Goode referenced the price doubling as not being acceptable. Councillor Taylor presented the Conservatives alternative budget in which they had proven parking prices could be frozen, with the council still meeting it’s commitment to balance the budget. 

“This price rise is confusing and frustrating on so many levels”, Councillor Taylor said. 

“First, we weren’t given the chance to scrutinise it. Second, the HRA seem to be acting surprised by the rise, and thirdly they are trying to cover their tracks with ‘an investigation’.”

Councillor Taylor believes that whatever the result of the investigation, the outcome will be the same. 

“Either the HRA need to admit they knew about the price rise, in which they must justify that decision and apologise for the poor communication to residents. Or, they must admit that they failed to read the papers in front of them, refund residents, and put their budget through the proper scrutiny”. 

Councillor Taylor acknowledged that finances are tight, but that residents deserve better. 

“Things weren’t perfect before, they aren’t perfect now, Havering is struggling financially. But, none of that is an excuse for taking residents for granted and for extortionate charges that they have no choice but to pay”. 

“Residents deserve better. The cabinet member responsible for this rise, and subsequent cover-up, should resign.”

Here are the two lists of different charges.

The first was agreed at the Overview and Scrutiny Board on 7th February 2023 and the Cabinet on 8th February 2023 where they were presented with amendment for the new higher prices.

The second was the one which was actually presented to Full Council Budget Meeting on 1st March.

1st Resident Permit per household      £35.00 last year, £70.00 this year (originally £40.00)

2nd Resident Permit per household     £60.00 last year, £140.00 this year (originally £80.00)

3rd Resident Permit per household      £85.00 last year, £210.00 this year (originally £120.00)

Most of the other charges have been amended in the same way, i.e. between the February meetings and Full Council on 1st March.

St Albans ward Councillor Judith Holt told the Havering Daily:

“There was no notification of this change. The HRA Deputy Leader has even confirmed that they were not aware of the rise. So…… – Why the sudden price increase? – Was the Budget, which was approved by the O/S Board and Cabinet, not balanced? – Who approved the sudden uplift, after Cabinet and before Full Council? – How does the HRA not know what the Council officers are doing? Or, does each not know what the other is doing? I struggle to believe that no member of the HRA / Labour Administration was aware of the increase. Surely Cabinet members have to approve a Budget proposal before it is presented to Full Council?”

We now await the results of this investigation.

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