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Parking income in Dacorum

Last updated . Figures refresh every night. How each figure is worked out.

In 2025–26 Dacorum took £3.1m in parking income and spent £2.0m, a surplus of £1.1m against £0.4m in 2024–25 (+196%), the 150th largest of 290 councils in England. Penalty charges brought in £0.2m. Figures are from the council's own return to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Figures for the 2025–26 financial year. Source: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Key figures

  • £1.14mParking surplus up on a year earlier: +£0.75m (+196.1%) vs 2024–25 2025–26
  • £3.10mParking income up on a year earlier: +£0.52m (+20.1%) vs 2024–25 2025–26
  • £1.97mSpending on parking down on a year earlier: −£0.23m (−10.6%) vs 2024–25 2025–26
  • £0.21mPenalty charge income down on a year earlier: −£0.13m (−37.9%) vs 2024–25 2025–26
  • 150 of 290Rank in England, largest surplus first 2025–26

Source: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

How much has Dacorum made from parking each year?

Dacorum: parking income, spending and surplus, £ million
The numbers behind this chart
Dacorum: parking income, spending and surplus, £ million
YearIncomeSpendingSurplus
2017–18
Details for 2017–18
£2.28m£1.63m£0.65m
Spending
£1.63m
Surplus
£0.65m
2018–19
Details for 2018–19
£2.28m£1.46m£0.82m
Spending
£1.46m
Surplus
£0.82m
2019–20
Details for 2019–20
£2.27m£1.78m£0.49m
Spending
£1.78m
Surplus
£0.49m
2020–21
Details for 2020–21
£1.38m£1.59m£-0.21m
Spending
£1.59m
Surplus
£-0.21m
2021–22
Details for 2021–22
£2.17m£1.71m£0.46m
Spending
£1.71m
Surplus
£0.46m
2022–23
Details for 2022–23
£2.2m£1.69m£0.51m
Spending
£1.69m
Surplus
£0.51m
2023–24
Details for 2023–24
£2.76m£1.99m£0.77m
Spending
£1.99m
Surplus
£0.77m
2024–25
Details for 2024–25
£2.58m£2.2m£0.38m
Spending
£2.2m
Surplus
£0.38m
2025–26
Details for 2025–26
£3.1m£1.97m£1.14m
Spending
£1.97m
Surplus
£1.14m

Figures for the 2025–26 financial year. Source: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Dacorum: on-street and car park accounts
YearOn-street incomeOn-street spendingCar park incomeCar park spendingPenalty income
2017–18
Details for 2017–18
£0.47m£0.73m£1.80m£0.90m£0.23m
On-street spending
£0.73m
Car park income
£1.80m
Car park spending
£0.90m
Penalty income
£0.23m
2018–19
Details for 2018–19
£0.45m£0.63m£1.83m£0.83m£0.00m
On-street spending
£0.63m
Car park income
£1.83m
Car park spending
£0.83m
Penalty income
£0.00m
2019–20
Details for 2019–20
£0.52m£0.78m£1.75m£1.00m£0.28m
On-street spending
£0.78m
Car park income
£1.75m
Car park spending
£1.00m
Penalty income
£0.28m
2020–21
Details for 2020–21
£0.36m£0.60m£1.02m£0.98m£0.17m
On-street spending
£0.60m
Car park income
£1.02m
Car park spending
£0.98m
Penalty income
£0.17m
2021–22
Details for 2021–22
£0.49m£0.70m£1.68m£1.01m£0.23m
On-street spending
£0.70m
Car park income
£1.68m
Car park spending
£1.01m
Penalty income
£0.23m
2022–23
Details for 2022–23
£0.43m£0.66m£1.77m£1.03m£0.18m
On-street spending
£0.66m
Car park income
£1.77m
Car park spending
£1.03m
Penalty income
£0.18m
2023–24
Details for 2023–24
£0.78m£0.83m£1.98m£1.15m£0.60m
On-street spending
£0.83m
Car park income
£1.98m
Car park spending
£1.15m
Penalty income
£0.60m
2024–25
Details for 2024–25
£0.62m£0.97m£1.96m£1.22m£0.35m
On-street spending
£0.97m
Car park income
£1.96m
Car park spending
£1.22m
Penalty income
£0.35m
2025–26
Details for 2025–26
£0.57m£0.71m£2.53m£1.25m£0.21m
On-street spending
£0.71m
Car park income
£2.53m
Car park spending
£1.25m
Penalty income
£0.21m

Figures for the 2025–26 financial year. Source: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

All figures are cash, in the council's own return. The most recent year is a first release and may be revised. Dacorum is recorded as: Shire District.

What can Dacorum spend a surplus on?

On-street parking charges and all council parking penalty charges (England and Wales)

Ring-fenced by law a ring-fenced parking account. A surplus may only be spent on parking, public transport, highway and environmental improvements and similar purposes; a deficit is made good from the general fund.

Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, s55, as applied in England by SI 2022/71, regs 25 and 27

At the end of each financial year any deficit in the account shall be made good out of the general fund or, in Wales, council fund, and (subject to subsection (3) below) any surplus shall be applied for all or any of the purposes specified in subsection (4) below

Council car park (off-street) tariffs

Kept by the body that collects it the council's general fund. Section 55 covers on-street parking and enforcement income, not car park fees. Not verified

Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, s55(1), and DfT statutory guidance on civil parking enforcement

The income from on-street charging and any penalty charge payments received (whether for on-street or off-street enforcement) must only be used in accordance with section 55 (as amended) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.

Legal position as of 22 September 2026. Source: legislation.gov.uk. Checked by hand 22 September 2026.

How does Dacorum compare with other councils?

Dacorum among the England councils nearest it, parking surplus 2025–26

Ranked largest surplus first; a negative figure is a deficit. Every council is in the full tables.

Show as a table
Dacorum among the England councils nearest it, parking surplus 2025–26
NameSurplus
146. Wokingham UA£1.21m
147. Arun£1.18m
148. Bedford UA£1.17m
149. Bury MBC£1.15m
150. Dacorum (Dacorum)£1.14m
151. Durham UA£1.12m
152. Brentwood£1.12m
153. Oxfordshire CC£1.10m
154. Great Yarmouth£1.10m

Figures for the 2025–26 financial year. Source: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Every council's parking surplus, penalty charge levels and the national trend.

Sources for this page

SourcePublisherFigures as ofUpdatedLicence
Local authority revenue expenditure and financing: revenue outturn multi-year data set (RO2 parking)Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Governmentthe 2025–26 financial yearannualOpen Government Licence v3.0
legislation.gov.uk and official guidance, provision by provisionlegislation.gov.uk22 September 2026annualOpen Government Licence v3.0 (legislation.gov.uk)

Each source's figures are used under the licence shown. Our own words, analysis, charts and derived calculations are ours, under CC BY 4.0.

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