APPENDIX C Executive, 10 July 2007

CAR CLUBS Report by the Service Director (Environment and Sustainability) Executive Member for Transport, Planning and Regeneration

Purpose

This report provides background to car clubs and seeks approval for the development of Car Clubs within the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames. Car clubs can contribute to the Council’s strategic aims, particularly to deliver modal shift and reduce CO2 emissions in accordance with Policy Programme 2006-2010 and the Council’s Key Objective 7, Options for Travel. The Council can take steps to encourage and steer car club development in the Borough and it is proposed that a trial car club scheme be established in the Surbiton area, and proposals for other areas be developed for the future.

Action proposed by the Executive Member for Transport, Planning and Regeneration:

The Executive is requested to:

1. note the potential contribution of car clubs to the Council’s strategic aims, particularly to deliver modal shift and reduce CO2 emissions in accordance with Policy Programme 2006-2010 and the Council’s Key Objective 7, Options for Travel;

2. approve the principle of developing car clubs in the Borough;

3. approve, in principle, the proposal to establish a trial car club scheme in the Surbiton area and authorise Officers to submit a funding bid to TfL;

4. request Surbiton Neighbourhood Committee consider the establishment of a trial car club within their Neighbourhood; and

5. request that other Neighbourhood Committees consider proposals regarding the establishment of car clubs in the future.

Reason for action proposed To contribute to the Council’s strategic aims, particularly sustainable transport objectives, by enabling the Council to support the development of car clubs in the Royal Borough.

BACKGROUND

1. A car club allows a car to be hired quickly and easily for short term use. To access the service, users must first register as members of the car club and can then book a car via the phone or the internet. Payment usually includes a membership fee (monthly, annual or one off) and a charge each time the car is used (an hourly fee and/ or mileage payment). The cars are generally located on street, normally in C2

high density residential areas where they will be accessible to a suitably large catchment of potential users.

2. Car clubs are primarily aimed at people who already use or have the option to use alternative modes of transport for most of their regular trips (e.g. commuting, school run etc) but may still wish to use a car (or second family car) for occasional trips (e.g. leisure, supermarket etc). Car clubs allow members to continue using a car for occasional trips without having to own a car, thus breaking the link between car use and car ownership. For members, joining a car club generally costs less and involves none of the hassle and responsibility associated with owning, parking and maintaining a car.

3. Corporate car club membership is also available for businesses, allowing the car club to be used as a “pool car” facility for business trips. This can contribute towards the objectives of a workplace travel plan by allowing staff to use a car for essential work duties without having to drive to work.

4. Car clubs are run as profit making commercial enterprises by private operators. The car club operators are responsible for all the day to day operations including administration, maintenance and cleaning. Car Club Operators have to meet set business, service and safety standards in order to receive accreditation from Carplus, a nationally recognised charitable organisation that aims to promote car club use and development. There are currently 4 car club operators in the UK with Carplus accreditation; , , and City Car Club. Accredited car clubs already operate across including in the neighbouring Boroughs of Merton, Richmond and Sutton, so any car clubs in Kingston would be part of a local network.

POLICY CONSIDERATIONS

5. Car clubs can contribute to sustainable transport objectives by reducing levels of car ownership and overall levels of car use. TfL research among car club members in 2006 saw 20 per cent of users having given up their own car and 30 per cent having deferred purchasing a car as a direct result of their car club membership. Research has also shown that people who give up owning a car and join a car club instead are likely to reduce their overall car mileage by 60-70% and increase their use of sustainable alternatives.

6. One car club car on average replaces 6 privately owned cars, so car clubs can also help to alleviate local parking pressures, particularly in high density residential areas and/ or controlled parking zones. In addition, a car club can promote accessibility and social inclusion, by allowing non car owners to access services that are difficult to reach without a car. Car clubs therefore improve travel options by enabling a car to be available as an option for some trips whilst encouraging more sustainable travel patterns overall.

7. The Mayor’s Transport Strategy (2001) supports the introduction of car clubs stating that car sharing schemes or city car clubs can support the aims of the Strategy by encouraging reductions in car ownership and use. Proposal 4H.3 “The London boroughs and businesses will be encouraged to support the development and introduction of car sharing schemes and city car clubs”.

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8. RBK does not currently have any specific strategy or policies on car clubs. However, the introduction of car clubs would support the following Council objectives and targets:

a) Council Policy Programme 2006-2010, Key Objective 7-Options for Travel; Delivering modal shift and CO2 emissions savings.

b) The Unitary Development Plan 2005 i. STR 13 Sustainable Transport Strategy ii. STR 16 Developing and Promoting Sustainable Transport Modes

c) The Local Implementation Plan 2006 i. Policy 1- In line with the Mayors Transport Strategy the Council will pursue demand restraint measures. ii. Policy 3- Modal Shift Targets - To bring the modal share of residents trips by car down from 53% in 2001 to 50% by 2006 and 45% by 2011.

OPERATIONAL CONSIDERATIONS AND PROPOSALS

9. The Council can take steps to encourage and steer car club development in the Borough by assisting in the process of setting up the car clubs. It is envisaged that the roles of the Council in this process will be;

a) to identify suitable locations for the car club,

b) to allocate parking for the car club,

c) to conduct a tender process to appoint the most appropriate car club operator to run the service (operator to be accredited by Carplus)

d) to assist with publicity and promotion of the car club to residents and businesses

e) to bid to Transport for London for funding to support the above processes, particularly for the allocation of parking and for promotion/ publicity. Once established the car club would be expected to be financially self sufficient, so the Council will not provide any direct financial support to the car club operator.

10. When allocating parking spaces for the car club, it is not ideal to locate the cars within large multi storey or surface car parks, as this will not be particularly convenient for users and the costs would be too high (either as a direct financial cost to the car club operator or as lost parking revenue for the Council). It is therefore usually preferable to locate the car club on street in existing residential or shared use bays, as this will be more convenient for users and will not involve any significant loss of parking revenue for the Council. The Council can use a Traffic Regulation Order to convert existing on street bays to specific “Car Club Only” bays. The conversion of existing bays may initially result in less availability of parking spaces for existing permit holders. However, it should be remembered that one car club vehicle could potentially reduce car ownership and replace up to 6 privately owned cars, so the car club is actually likely to reduce local parking pressures in the medium to long term.

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11. Detailed proposals for the conversion of specific bays to Car Club bays would be developed in conjunction with and agreed by the appropriate Neighbourhood Committees.

12. When identifying suitable areas to locate a car club, the car club will be more successful and effective if the following criteria are met:

a) Located in an area with good public transport links so that a car is not required for most regular trips.

b) Located in/ within walking distance of significant numbers of residential dwellings, particularly relatively high density residential areas without private driveways/ parking spaces.

c) Located in controlled parking zones and/or areas that experience parking pressures.

d) Located near to businesses to allow corporate use of car club.

e) Located on street preferably in a busy, high profile location, to be convenient and aide promotion of the service.

13. It is proposed that a trial car club scheme be established within the Borough. If the trial is successful then consideration will be given to introducing car clubs in other areas of the Borough. It is considered that Surbiton would be the ideal location for this trial for the following reasons:

a) Surbiton has one of the best levels of public transport accessibility in the Borough with frequent train and bus services.

b) Large numbers of residential dwellings in proximity, including many flats and terraced dwellings without their own parking.

c) Existing local parking pressures but CPZ’s in place

d) Many businesses are located in Surbiton, including some very large employers, offering opportunities for corporate use.

e) Existing on street car parking bays in the Surbiton area could potentially be converted to car club bay(s).

14. Detailed proposals for the Surbiton car club trial will be developed in conjunction with the Surbiton Neighbourhood Committee. It is proposed that Surbiton Neighbourhood be requested to consider the establishment of a trial car club within their Neighbourhood and as officers develop proposals for other Neighbourhood Committees to consider establishing car clubs the future.

15. Transport for London is inviting London Boroughs to apply for funding to support the development of car clubs in 2007/8 (deadline for submissions is 27th July 2007). Funding will not be available to support financially the day to day operation of car

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clubs, as they should be self sufficient. However, the funding can be used to cover costs incurred by the Council in helping to establish car clubs, such as promotional activities, monitoring and Traffic Regulation Orders to convert existing parking bays to car club bays. If in principle approval is given to establish a trial scheme in Surbiton, it is proposed that officers submit a bid to TfL for funding.

16. An alternative way to secure car clubs in the Borough is through the development control process. Car clubs can form part of proposals for large scale residential development (generally over 100 units), with the aim of encouraging new residents to establish sustainable travel patterns from first occupation. Several planning applications (currently undetermined) for large residential developments in the Borough have already been submitted with proposals for car clubs included. To ensure that development related car clubs represent best value for residents and are effective in reducing traffic generated by the development, it is essential that the Council can secure the car club according to certain specifications through a robust Planning Agreement (Section 106). This could include obliging the developer to; provide on site parking, meet the costs of setting up and financially supporting the car club, fund free membership and trial use incentives for residents and to make the car club available for use by the wider public.

17. Whilst there are no specific planning policies on car clubs in the Unitary Development Plan (2005), the Executive’s support would strengthen and clarify the Council’s position in securing car clubs through the planning process. Such strategic support will also form the foundation for future work to develop planning policies to support and guide car club development through the planning process i.e. Supplementary Planning Guidance and as part of the emerging Local Development Framework.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS

18. The aim of car clubs is to reduce overall levels of car use, with the associated environmental benefits of reduced emissions of CO2 and local air pollutants.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

19. Car clubs are financially self sufficient, so the Council will not be expected to directly finance the scheme. The scheme could potentially involve a loss of parking revenue for the Council, although if residential or shared use bays are used, this will not be significant. Should this report be approved, it is intended to make a bid to TfL to assist with costs associated with establishing the car club, including any necessary traffic regulation orders.

NETWORK IMPLICATIONS

20. The Traffic Management Act 2004 has placed a duty on local traffic authorities to "secure the expeditious movement of traffic on the authority's road network". In the Act the term "traffic" includes all forms of vehicles and includes pedestrians. When making decisions, which affect the efficiency of the highway networks, the Authority needs to have full regard to safety, local and regional policies, all types of traffic use, the strategic importance of the street to traffic, the level of potential disruption

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to traffic and the allocation of road space to meet reasonable user demands/expectations. Off street parking spaces or existing on street car parking bays will be used, therefore there will be no implications for the road network. The introduction of car clubs will help to contribute to an overall reduction of traffic flows.

Background Papers: Held by Louisa Gent, (author of report) 020 8547 5760, [email protected]

1. Using Cars to Reduce Car Use in Local Transport Planning; Carplus, 2004 2. Fast Track Guide to Setting up a Car Club; Carplus, 2006 3. Car Clubs in Property Developments; Carplus, 2007 4. Car Club on-street parking – a best practice guide; Carplus, 2006 5. Car Clubs at Work; Carplus, 2006