Council parking revenue in England 2017-1819 Nov 2018

Surplus up yet again

Councils in England have seen their parking ‘profits’ rise by almost a third (32%) in just four years.

In 2017-18, the combined surplus made by the 353 English local authorities was £867 million, up from £658 million in 2013-14.

Total income from both on- and off-street parking activity was £1.66 billion in 2017-18.

Total expenditure was £793 million. Additionally, councils may incur interest payments or depreciation on their capital assets such as car parks, though this is not accounted for in these official figures.

The difference between the two – £867 million – is the surplus or profit.

This is 6% more than the £819 million made in the previous financial year (2016-17). It is also 11% higher than the £782 million surplus that the councils themselves had budgeted for.

Analysis by David Leibling for the RAC Foundation shows that of the 353 councils which made official financial returns to central government, only 39 made a loss from their parking activities.

 £million 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2017-18 budget 2018-19 budget Change 2017-18 on 2016-17
On-street Fees and permits 435 472 483 542 578 7%
Penalties 340 328 338 347 376 8%
Total income 775 800 821 889 954 7%
Expenditure 408 421 407 414 431 4%
Surplus 367 379 414 475 523 10%
Off-street Total income 640 645 670 693 706 2%
Expenditure 349 341 340 349 362 4%
Surplus 291 304 330 344 344
All parking Total income 1,415 1,445 1,491 1582 1660 5%
Expenditure 757 762 747 763 793 4%
  Surplus 658 683 744 819 867 782 885 6%
     
 All England transport Expenditure 4,796 4,537 4,331 4,012 3,997 4,240 4,251 -0.4%
Parking surplus as % of net transport expenditure 14% 15% 17% 20% 22% 18% 21%