The SNP -led Perth and Kinross Council has announced it will not introduce the Workplace Parking Levy over its five-year council term.
The controversial scheme - allowing individual councils to decide whether or not to levy employers who provide parking for employees - came into effect on March 4 this year.
The national scheme was agreed by the Scottish Government as part of a 2019 budget deal between the SNP and Scottish Greens.
Prior to the May 2022 local elections Perth and Kinross Council had been led by the Scottish Conservatives. The party's leader Douglas Ross told the Scottish Parliament in February no Conservative -led council would introduce the levy. He was later accused of hypocrisy having championed it when he was a Moray councillor. In 2013 he proposed charging council workers for parking as a means of generating revenue.
Following the local elections the SNP took the helm of Perth and Kinross Council as the largest political group. And - "despite" what Cllr Laing called "mischief making from opposition politicians during the election campaign" - the SNP administration will not introduce the levy during its five-year term at the helm of Perth and Kinross Council.
The Strathtay councillor said: "I am pleased to rule out the introduction of a Workplace Parking Levy in Perth and Kinross, should the SNP remain in administration during the course of this five-year council term. We welcome any commitments from The Scottish Government which allow taxation to be collected and spent locally, but after careful consideration, we have concluded that the Workplace Parking Levy will not be introduced in Perth and Kinross.
"We remain committed to making it easier for people to travel to work via more sustainable and greener options, while simultaneously relieving cost pressures for workers who are already feeling the squeeze of the cost-of-living crisis.
"I know that this will be a relief for the people of Perth and Kinross, and I look forward to working with our partners to press on with our green transport strategy.
"Despite some mischief making from opposition politicians during the election campaign, I am sure that this decision will be welcomed by all parties across the council."
