London boroughs no longer need to subsidise car clubs, but can oil their wheels by providing parking bays and encouraging developer contributions. Consultants have advised a consortium of councils against any further exclusive agreements with operators, calling instead for a free market to spur competition and innovation. In the longer term, as the market becomes established, boroughs should strive for greater integration with public transport and inter-operability between operators. Transport Planning International (TPi) suggests emulating the quality partnerships with bus operators. ~Transport for London~which funded the study, could assume a monitoring and regulatory role. Simple and consistent development control policies were important, but lacking in the capital, TPi found. ‘It is essential that boroughs develop clear policies with some degree of synergy across London.’ Contributions should only be sought for traffic management orders, residents’ memberships and marketing and promotion. Funding thresholds should not be based on operators’ advice. TPi has devised a GIS-based scoring system so boroughs can target areas with the highest population density, non-car use and deprivation. Operators told TPi that funding was not essential and they were willing to pay for on-streets bays in commercially-viable areas. Visible on-street bays are best, but some clubs have had success off-street. Smart Moves, which claims to be the leader among the four London operators, backed the thrust of the report, but had not been consulted. Its contract with the consortium ends this month. Support had been vital when the market was ‘totally experimental,’ said managing director Dirk van Dijl. But since it stopped two years ago, business had expanded 13-fold. It has 2,000-plus members but the size of the London market is unknown. Councils only needed to set parking standards, and car clubs could negotiate with developers, he added. The biggest boost for car clubs would be an exemption from the congestion charge, so far refused by TfL. A TfL spokeswoman confirmed it would announce funding to support boroughs’ development of car clubs London-wide by April. It made £200,000 available in 2005/06.