Scotland's councils net £40m profit from parking charges

Local authorities in Scotland made a £40.3 million surplus or ‘profit’ from their parking activities in 2015-16. That’s 12% higher than in the 2014-15 financial year when £36.1 million was reported – with fifteen of the country’s 32 councils making money.

Data analysed for the RAC Foundation shows that between them, the 32 councils had a combined income from their parking activities – charges and penalty income from on- and off-street parking – of £79.3 million.

However, the combined cost for councils of running their parking activities was £39.0 million.

Edinburgh had the largest surplus at £19.4 million - up from £17.4 million in 2014-15. It was followed by Glasgow at £12.6 million and Aberdeen at £4.89m. Between them these three local authorities generated 91% of the total net surplus in Scotland.

Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said:

“Providing and managing the space for us to park our cars is not a cost-free activity for councils, but controlling those costs is clearly important.

“By keeping the bills down and seeing a rise in parking income there has been a significant increase in the annual surplus, or profit, councils are making from parking activities. The good news is that this money must be re-invested in transport services including, Scottish drivers will expect, maintaining the road network.

“Amongst the numbers in our report, Scottish motorists will note that a fifth of parking income comes the near half a million penalty charge notices issued."