A senior Newham councillor has avoided directly answering questions over whether Labour’s plans to introduce free parking in the borough could clash with policies set by Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan.
The ruling Labour group pledged during this year’s local election campaign to provide one free parking permit for every household and introduce one hour of free parking for residents across the borough.
Labour went on to win Newham’s mayoral election in May and remains the largest group on the council. However, residents have questioned whether the proposed changes could conflict with London-wide transport and environmental policies.
At a full council meeting on Monday, four residents submitted questions raising concerns about the legality and practicality of the proposals.
Martin Warne pointed out that Sadiq Khan is currently developing plans for parking surcharges on larger vehicles and said transport policy across London was moving towards discouraging car use rather than reducing parking costs.
Meanwhile, Nina Schlautmann highlighted the Mayor’s target for 80 per cent of journeys in London to be made on foot, by bicycle or by public transport by 2041.
Both asked how Newham’s free parking promises aligned with those wider ambitions.
Residents Shabina Sultana and Josephine Grahl also questioned whether any changes to the council’s emissions-based parking scheme would require approval from City Hall.
They noted that the scheme forms part of Newham’s Local Implementation Plan, which helps deliver London-wide transport policies.
They also referenced a decision involving Tower Hamlets Council last year, where the removal of low-traffic neighbourhoods was deemed unlawful because the borough had not secured the necessary approval from the Mayor of London.
Cllr Susan Masters, Labour’s cabinet member responsible for roads, did not directly answer any of the questions. In identical written responses, 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 was not present at the meeting and therefore could not be asked follow-up questions.
In a separate written response to Newham Independents councillor Tamzied Khan, who supports the free parking proposals, she revealed that councillors would receive an “options report” on parking permits in September.
The report is expected to set out possible approaches for delivering the policy.
Last week, Cllr Masters also confirmed that the free parking permit scheme and one-hour free parking offer would not form part of the council’s wider review of parking rules.
She said Labour remained “100% committed” to delivering the promises but added that both measures were “bound by separate legal guidance”.
The council has yet to confirm when either proposal could be introduced.
