Swansea Council is hoping to save money and jobs by introducing parking charges for Council staff and Councillors.
A report due to be heard at the Council’s Cabinet on Thursday July 29 will look at the introduction of annual charges for Members and Council staff who park at the Civic Centre, the Guildhall, Council offices in Penllergaer and other public car parks used by staff.
The charges could result in the Council collecting over £250,000 annually. The sum could help ease budget pressures faced by the Council and could possibly save a number of jobs threatened by the budget cuts.
At present, Council staff park for free but the new plans will follow similar moves introduced in Neath Port Talbot Council where full time staff pay £198 a year to park their cars.
The report also seeks to reduce congestion in the city centre by encouraging Council staff to use park and ride services to travel to work by offering the service to them for free.
Cllr John Hague, Cabinet Member for the Environment in Swansea Council, said: “The proposals to charge staff for parking fit in with our corporate travel plan which seeks to encourage use of public transport, walking and cycling and aims to reduce the impact of car use.
“The plans could also help the Council during a difficult economic period. A small charge for parking could certainly help reduce the economic deficit faced by this Council and could help save jobs.”
