CALLS for city councillors to rip up their free council car park passes have won the support of an independent panel during a review of members' allowances.

Among the changes proposed for York councillors is for their free parking badges to be scrapped. Members have been able to park for free in council car parks while on official business, providing they are not in the St Leonard's or Shambles car park.

Green Party councillor Andy D'Agorne has welcomed the panel's support, having earlier this year led calls for the permits to be stopped, following a public outcry over increased parking charges in York.

Coun D'Agorne said: "It is about practicing what you preach in terms of tackling traffic within the city centre."

He said he had been "surprised" to learn councillors received free parking permits when he became elected.

"This is about sending out the right message to people, when we are trying to encourage council employees and others who work in the city centre to use other forms of transport. I thought it was important not to overlook this, given the furore about parking. This change is long overdue."

Proposed changes to members' allowances went before the City of York Council's Executive yesterday.

Councillors cannot amend their allowances without first considering a report from its Independent Remuneration Panel.

The panel's review recommends scrapping the free parking passes and reimbursing members for their travel costs while attending council business. Another suggested change was to increase the basic allowance to £6,300 a year, while allowances for travel outside the city boundary should be adjusted to match those paid to council employees.

Council transport chief Ann Reid told a full council meeting in February that the free pass was not a perk, as it was only used by councillors on official business.

She said it helped with efficiency, as some councillors had to rush to get to council meetings straight after work outside York.

Councillors paid to use the car parks at all other times, she said, adding that some members used alternative transport or shared cars for journeys.

Executive members at a meeting last night were asked to consider what recommendations to make to full council on November 9 after assessing the independent panel's review.

Updated: 08:27 Wednesday, October 27, 2004