Scots councils park £40m in the coffers

Fines and charges see profits soar by 12% and Edinburgh rakes in £19m

SCOTLAND’S councils have banked more than £40million in profits from parkingrelated charges.

Edinburgh and Glasgow saw inflation-busting rises in the millions they make from motorists. The capital recorded a 12 per cent hike in profit to £19.36million. Glasgow’s profits rose 11 per cent to £12.58million.

The two cities account for £32million of the £40.3million profit made from motorists.

Overall, profit was up 12 per cent. UK inflation is at 2.3 per cent.

Aberdeen, the third largest city, saw an eight per cent rise to £4.89million.

Other local authorities saw huge percentage increases from the previous year but from a low base, suggesting they have new profit-chasing policies.

The good news for taxpayers is that profits have to be re-invested in local transport services.

Data analysed for the RAC Foundation shows that between them, the 32 councils’ income from parking charges and fines was £79.3million.

Running their parking activities cost councils was £39million.

The three largest cities generated 91 per cent of the surplus.

Fifteen of the 32 councils showed a surplus, two made neither a deficit nor a surplus, 13 showed a deficit, while East Lothian and North Lanarkshire did not provide details.

The data came from local authorities’ returns to the Scottish Government.

The figures aren’t broken down to show how much was from fines but 457,000 were issued in 2014-15 and 466,000 in 2015-16.

RAC Foundation director Steve Gooding said: “Providing and managing space for us to park our cars is not a cost-free activity for councils but controlling those costs is clearly important. By keeping bills down and seeing a rise in parking income, there has been a significant increase in the annual surplus, or profit, councils are making.

“The good news is that this money must be re-invested in transport services including, Scottish drivers will expect, maintaining roads.

“A fifth of parking income comes from the near half a million penalty charge notices issued.”