15 Mar 2025
Councillors of all parties are enjoying the benefit of substantially discounted parking despite the ongoing controversy surrounding the introduction of new charges for ordinary motorists.
Elected members of SADC are entitled to park for pennies in council car parks and residential parking zones when performing their duties across the district.
The charge is equivalent to a resident’s first car permit and the appropriate emissions rating, so between £15.80-£96.60 per annum, and an average of 4p-26p a day.
In comparison, the council’s new Access Permit for over-70s costs £190 a year, and parking in an on-street bay in Harpenden and St Albans for two hours now costs £3.75.
There are no time restrictions on how long a councillor may park, and because the permits are registered to specific vehicles, no firm measures in place to ensure they are not used by someone else from a member’s family or household.
Out of the 56 district councillors, 33 possess a parking permit.
SADC staff are also entitled to park for free in the Civic Centre car park – which would normally be a weekly cost of £48.20 – and officers who are out and about across the district can obtain a permit for paid and residential bays.
SADC strategic director for community and place delivery Chris Traill explained: “Councillors can apply for a car parking permit for council car parks and residents’ bays.
“This is to ensure they can carry out their official duties such as attend meetings at the Civic Centre or elsewhere in the district when necessary, or events within their ward.
“There is an annual charge equivalent to the cost of a first car permit and the appropriate emissions rating.
“The permits are not transferable and can only be used when on council business. Councillors are made aware of these conditions.
“Council staff can apply for a permit to use council car parks such as the Civic Centre at no cost.
“Staff who have to make frequent visits to sites around the district can apply for a permit that will also cover both paid and residents’ parking bays.
“Those eligible include some members of the social housing team, planners, building control staff and environmental health officers.
“The permits are not transferable and can only be used during working hours or when on official council business. All staff are made aware of this.”
We asked party leaders for their opinions on this perk, and if they agreed that it is cheaper and more accessible for councillors and council officers to park in comparison to residents using the new Access Permit?
Leader of the Liberal Democrat administration Cllr Paul de Kort said: “It is against the rules of the permit possession for anyone else to use it, because its use must be primarily for councillor business (a councillor coming in for a meeting and then walking to the High Street to pick up a sandwich or some toothpaste would not be considered a breach of the conditions, to be clear).”
But he said it was impossible for enforcement officers to check with councillors that they are on official business.
“It is not practical to check this, which is why it is a condition of acquisition. Councillors may need to use residents’ bays or a range of car parks, although most of the time they will be using the Civic Centre car park to attend meetings in the council offices.”
He added: “There has been a good case made for these permits to be provided for free, but we decided at least two years ago that there should be a charge to provide some incentive for councillors to use other modes of transport, if possible. There is one senior councillor, who I know walks or catches the bus to every meeting when carrying out their duties.”
In terms of the Access Permit, he said he did not agree that it was cheaper and more accessible for councillors and officers compared to residents.
“Neither councillors nor council officers can park in any of the 16 district car parks for any purpose that they choose or at any time.
“When councillors or council officers do use their permit it is to carry out their ‘work’, as the Access Pass is available only to those over 70, it is very unlikely it is being used for an employment purpose. It’s not more accessible unless you include extraordinarily long meetings over three hours, which would only really occur in the evenings (when, of course, the charging rate – so avoided cost – is much lower).”
Conservative leader Cllr Matt Cowley said: “The Conservative Group opposed the Lib Dems’ decision to scrap the old Senior Citizens’ Parking Permit and we would like to see the administration restore a permit scheme much closer to that original one than the current Access Pass is.
“The councillor parking permit perfectly illustrates that the Access Pass should be much more generous and much more available.
“Our group is focussed on tackling the Lib Dems’ mismanagement of our vouncil and improving things for residents in all areas – including parking – with proper long term planning that puts residents and good public services first.”
Cllr Simon Grover, leader of the Greens and Independents, added: “I can’t think how some of the rules could be practically enforced – I suppose it is up to councillors to use them responsibly.
“Certainly it would be cheaper and easier for some councillors and officers to park compared to residents in some situations.
“In the past, councillors used to be able to claim expenses for things like parking when on council business, along with phone calls, postage and so on. That system of expenses was largely replaced by the basic allowance that councillors get, which is intended to cover expenses as well as be a partial compensation for time and potentially lost earnings.
“The new system is blunt but much easier and cheaper to administer and is in line with what other councils do. The parking permit system is I suppose similar – it’s a broad brush approach and open to potential abuse, but is probably the simplest to administer and therefore saves officer time and money.”
Labour leader Cllr Emma Turnbull did not respond.
