Brent residents to be issued with ‘virtual’ permits in controlled parking zones

Changes will come into place when new contractor takes over parking services next month

Brent residents living in controlled parking zones will no longer have to display paper permits in their windscreens under new changes.

Drivers will be issued with ‘virtual’ permits later this year when a new contractor takes over parking services in the borough on April 2.

Brent Council has become one of three local authorities to share their parking service in the first ever joint scheme of this kind in the country.

This week Brent, Hounslow and Ealing Council, who are all part of the West London Alliance, jointly approved Serco as their chosen contractor for the next five years in a cost-cutting measure.

In addition to changes to permits, there will also be new IT and pooling of back office resources.

Councillor Jim Moher, Brent Council’s lead member for highways and transportation, said: “The contract will make substantial financial savings for Brent at a time when we are getting to grips with perhaps the worst financial settlement in the borough’s history.

“What’s more, it will further modernise our parking services by investing in new technology, and deliver the high-quality service Brent’s residents, businesses and drivers expect.”

Two weeks ago, Brent Council rubber-stamped plans to slash the cost of on-street parking in the borough.

A year after they controversially installed meters in three shopping parades in Wembley, they announced they will reduce the charges in an effort to attract more visitors to the area.

Drivers wishing to park for an hour will be charged £2 instead of £2.40, those who require four hours will pay £4 instead of £6, and a new charge of 20p for up to 15 minutes will be introduced.