Council defends £227,000 parking profits

The RAC Foundation, which compiled the figures, say parking “is quite a money spinner” for some councils but Hartlepool Borough Council say the money is needed to combat Government cuts, help balance the budget, maintain services and support local projects

The figures show the council made £227,000 in profit from parking services in 2019/20.

That was down 40% from £376,000 the previous year, and an 18% decrease from £278,000 in 2015-16.

Nationally, councils made a combined profit of £891m from parking in 2019/20 – down five per cent from £934m a year earlier.

RAC Foundation director Steve Gooding said: “Parking management is quite a money spinner for some local authorities.

“The surplus for 2019-20 is down a little on the year before which may in part reflect the impact of the first Covid lockdown which saw traffic levels plummet at the end of last March.

“Going forward there are likely to be many councils who are actually looking to cut parking charges as a way of encouraging more people to visit their high streets which are fighting for survival.”

The analysis, based on data from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, reveals the vast majority of the 338 councils who returned figures reported a surplus on their parking operations.

A Hartlepool Borough Council spokesperson said: “Following many years of reductions in the amount the council receives annually from central government, income such as that generated by parking charges has been needed to help the authority balance its budget and maintain services.

"Income from parking charges has also been used to help support projects benefitting residents of the town, including a recent Borough-wide Highways Improvement Programme and the extension of Seaton Carew Car Park.

“From February 1 motorists will be able to park for free for up to three hours daily in council-run town centre car parks.

“This is part of a Tees Valley-wide initiative proposed by Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen and supported by members of the Tees Valley Combined Authority’s (TVCA) Cabinet, including Councillor Shane Moore, the leader of Hartlepool Borough Council.”