FOI response proves that Brian Coleman's CPZ changes have wrecked Barnet Council finances

Guest Blog from Barnet CPZ Campaign

The information in the email below is simply astonishing. The purchase of visitor vouchers by Barnet's CPZ residents has all but died out since the price was quadrupled.

This is not surprising. CPZ residents can't and won't pay £40 or more to hold a children's party at their home; £20 to invite friends round for coffee; £28 or more to hold a book club meeting, £4 to have the grandchildren drop by for a minutes.

So  these sorts of simple social engagements have been abandoned by Barnet's all day CPZ residents or they are putting themselves and their guests to inconvenience and embarrassment to work around the charges.

Barnet Council in its 2011-2012 anticipated that almost 200,000 visitor vouchers would be purchased this year at £4 each. They'll be luck to sell 10% of this number.

Barnet Council predicted that quadrupling the cost of visitor vouchers would generate £590,000 MORE INCOME. In fact, it looks like it will create at least £100,000 LESS INCOME.     

Barnet Council: Destroying its communities while destroying its finances. 
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 From:  ********************** Redacted Barnet Council Employee
 Date: 31 January 2012 14:11:58 GMT

To: xxxxx 

Subject: Freedom of Information Act 2000

Dear xxxxx

I am writing in respect of your enquiry for information held by the Authority under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act. Please accept my apologies for the delay in responding to you. 

Please find the information you requested enclosed. If you have any queries concerning the information please contact me at the supplied address. 

18/04/2011 to 07/01/2012
Number of residents permits sold = 8,825
Number of visitor vouchers sold = 16,696

2010/11 -  01/04/2010 to 31/03/2011
Number of residents permits sold  = 13,453
Number of visitor vouchers sold = 331,614 

Unfortunately, we are unable to state how many of the applications received were for a households first car as we do not have the means of reporting on this presently. The figures provided are for the total number of resident permits and visitor vouchers sold for the periods between 18/04/2011 and 07/01/2012 and between 01/04/2010 and 31/03/2011. 

 
If you are unhappy with the way your request for information has been handled, you can request a review within the next 20 working days by writing to the FOI Officer at: The London Borough of Barnet, North London Business Park, Oakleigh Road South, London, N11 1NP (email foi@barnet.gov.uk).

If you remain dissatisfied with the handling of your request or complaint, you have a right to appeal to the Information Commissioner at: The Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF (telephone: 08456 30 60 60 or 01625 54 57 45; website: www.ico.gov.uk). There is no charge for making an appeal.

Yours sincerely,

******* *********
Administration Assistant
Environment, Planning and Regeneration
London Borough of Barnet, North London Business Park, Oakleigh Road South, London N11 1NP
Barnet Online: www.barnet.gov.uk

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