Any surplus made through parking fees and charges must be invested into transport and highways. This is a legal requirement. In 2022 to 2023, after direct costs, there was a surplus of £19,517,855.
The below table shows a year-on-year comparison of how surplus income was invested back into transport and highways, there was less income to be invested back compared to last year.
| Spending supported by civil parking enforcement income supplies | 2020/2021 | 2021/2022 | 2022/2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concessionary fees | £10,535,684 | £10,655,014 | £10,637,762 |
| Capital investment burrowing costs | £1,854,964 | £1,648,580 | £1,798,705 |
| Supported bus services and other transport services | £1,499,372 | £1,452,756 | £1,663,928 |
| Contribution to eligible transport related expenditure | £1,263,998 | £6,810,946 | £5,417,460 |
| Total | £15,154,018 | £20,567,296 | £19,517,855 |
Use of surplus income from parking charges and penalty charges is governed by section 55 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. Once the need for provision of off-street parking facilities and to make good deficits to central funding has been met, use of surpluses is currently confined to the provision of public transport services or to road, air quality or environmental improvements.
The council supports some bus routes by subsidising the costs of running these services. In the financial year 2022 to 2023 the Council spent £1,663,928 on supporting bus services.
A mandatory bus concession for older and disabled people has been in place since 2001. The scheme has gradually been extended since its introduction and since April 2008 has provided free off-peak local bus travel to eligible older and disabled people anywhere in England.
The majority of the surplus is spent on providing free travel for both the elderly and disabled residents.
We spent £10,637,762 on this service in financial year 2022 to 2023.