Council ‘loses’ parking money

Lincolnshire drivers are sticking to parking rules and the county council’s income is dropping as a result.

For the first time, there has been a deficit in the amount of money recovered in fines for on-street parking tickets since Lincolnshire County Council took over the role in 2012.

Up until the end of the last financial year, in March 2018, the amount of income saw a £47,321 deficit.

In the previous year there was a surplus of £67,898 and in the financial year 2015/16 the county had a £308,000 surplus.

More than 30,000 parking tickets were issued during the last financial year and a total of £992,094 in penalty charges collected.

The running costs are £1,078,568 and that leaves a deficit.

But when surpluses have been made in the past, the money is ring-fenced by the government so it can only be used for parking, transport, and environmental projects or to set aside to offset losses.

“Lincolnshire County Council receives no income for on-street parking, preferring to provide free, limited waiting parking in town centres, helping to support local businesses and services by encouraging more visitors,” said a report to the Highways  and Transport Scrutiny at a meeting on Monday.

“Most drivers take parking restrictions into consideration when going about their day-to-day business and lives, however, on occasion some decide to flout the restrictions or take a chance,” the report says.

“The council continues to work hard to deliver a parking enforcement service that is fair and consistent. In doing so it aims to improve road safety, reduce congestion and tackle anti-social parking and affect improvement in air quality,” it adds. 

“Without enforcement of the restrictions by the Civil Enforcement Officers, human nature would lead others to follow the example of those who ignore the restrictions. Thus the restrictions would be useless, negating the reason for designing and implementing them and leading to confusion with the result that the public would be unable to access important service and facilities,” said the report, which was for information.

“Surplus income has previously been spent to help finance the CCTV pilot enforcement scheme currently being undertaken outside of selected schools in Lincolnshire.”

The county council employs 20 civil enforcement officers and Spalding had 299 daily patrols during the year.

Holbeach had 64, Long Sutton 11, Crowland nine, Donington 10 and Sutton Bridge three.