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Councils make extra £60m from parking charges and fines | Councils make extra £60m from parking charges and fines |
(35 minutes later) | |
The amount of money councils in England generated from parking charges and fines has risen by more than £60m in the past year, research has found. | The amount of money councils in England generated from parking charges and fines has risen by more than £60m in the past year, research has found. |
The RAC Foundation said local authorities made a surplus of £756m in 2015/16 - 9% higher than in 2014/15. | The RAC Foundation said local authorities made a surplus of £756m in 2015/16 - 9% higher than in 2014/15. |
Director Steve Gooding said the "eye-wateringly large" amounts reflected growing competition for parking spaces. | Director Steve Gooding said the "eye-wateringly large" amounts reflected growing competition for parking spaces. |
The Local Government Association insisted councils did not make a profit from parking. | The Local Government Association insisted councils did not make a profit from parking. |
The surplus figure was calculated by looking at the income councils received from on- and off-street parking charges and penalty notices, minus their running costs. | |
Income was up by 4% and costs fell by 2% in the past year, according to the RAC, while the surplus figure was 34% higher than in 2011/12. | Income was up by 4% and costs fell by 2% in the past year, according to the RAC, while the surplus figure was 34% higher than in 2011/12. |
'Cash cow' | 'Cash cow' |
Mr Gooding said: "Parking charges are one of the tools councils use to keep traffic moving whilst also allowing people reasonable and affordable access to High Street shops and other facilities. | Mr Gooding said: "Parking charges are one of the tools councils use to keep traffic moving whilst also allowing people reasonable and affordable access to High Street shops and other facilities. |
"The good news is that any profit generated by councils from on-street parking must by law be spent on transport-related activities, and as every motorist knows there's no shortage of work that needs doing." | "The good news is that any profit generated by councils from on-street parking must by law be spent on transport-related activities, and as every motorist knows there's no shortage of work that needs doing." |
The largest surpluses came from London, with its 33 local authorities accounting for 44% of the country's total. | The largest surpluses came from London, with its 33 local authorities accounting for 44% of the country's total. |
The biggest amount outside of the capital was the £20.1m surplus in Brighton and Hove, followed by Nottingham's £13.6m. | The biggest amount outside of the capital was the £20.1m surplus in Brighton and Hove, followed by Nottingham's £13.6m. |
Nottingham City Council said its surplus came from the Workplace Parking Levy (WPL). | Nottingham City Council said its surplus came from the Workplace Parking Levy (WPL). |
The scheme - introduced in 2012 - charges businesses based in the city centre a fee for having more than 10 parking spaces. | The scheme - introduced in 2012 - charges businesses based in the city centre a fee for having more than 10 parking spaces. |
Nottingham's WPL has helped fund the extension to the city's tram network. | Nottingham's WPL has helped fund the extension to the city's tram network. |
Brighton and Hove Council said the surplus reflected the fact Brighton was a large city and that nearly all of its surplus from on-street parking was used to buy bus passes for the elderly or disabled people. | Brighton and Hove Council said the surplus reflected the fact Brighton was a large city and that nearly all of its surplus from on-street parking was used to buy bus passes for the elderly or disabled people. |
Top 10 | Top 10 |
The LGA, which represents councils in England and Wales, said local authorities must "strike a balance" when setting charges to ensure there were parking spaces available and traffic was not held up. | The LGA, which represents councils in England and Wales, said local authorities must "strike a balance" when setting charges to ensure there were parking spaces available and traffic was not held up. |
Transport spokeswoman Judith Blake added: "Income from on-street parking charges is spent on running parking services, and surpluses are spent on essential transport projects, such as tackling the £12bn roads repair backlog, creating new parking spaces and providing subsidised bus travel for children or elderly residents." | Transport spokeswoman Judith Blake added: "Income from on-street parking charges is spent on running parking services, and surpluses are spent on essential transport projects, such as tackling the £12bn roads repair backlog, creating new parking spaces and providing subsidised bus travel for children or elderly residents." |
The Department for Communities and Local Government said it was supporting a private member's bill by Conservative MP David Tredinnick to make it easier for English councils to lower parking charges at short notice. | The Department for Communities and Local Government said it was supporting a private member's bill by Conservative MP David Tredinnick to make it easier for English councils to lower parking charges at short notice. |
A spokesman added: "We've been clear councils shouldn't use parking as a cash cow, and many recognise the benefits that reduced or free parking has on encouraging footfall on the High Street." | A spokesman added: "We've been clear councils shouldn't use parking as a cash cow, and many recognise the benefits that reduced or free parking has on encouraging footfall on the High Street." |