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Parking income in East Sussex CC

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

In 2025–26 East Sussex CC took £7.6m in parking income and spent £4.8m, a surplus of £2.8m against £2.3m in 2024–25 (+24%), the 94th largest of 290 councils in England. Penalty charges brought in £7.2m. 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

  • £2.83mParking surplus up on a year earlier: +£0.55m (+24.0%) vs 2024–25 2025–26
  • £7.61mParking income up on a year earlier: +£0.55m (+7.8%) vs 2024–25 2025–26
  • £4.78mSpending on parking up on a year earlier: +£0.00m (+0.0%) vs 2024–25 2025–26
  • £7.19mPenalty charge income up on a year earlier: +£0.53m (+7.9%) vs 2024–25 2025–26
  • 94 of 290Rank in England, largest surplus first 2025–26

Source: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

How much has East Sussex CC made from parking each year?

East Sussex CC: parking income, spending and surplus, £ million
The numbers behind this chart
East Sussex CC: parking income, spending and surplus, £ million
YearIncomeSpendingSurplus
2017–18
Details for 2017–18
£5.11m£3.64m£1.48m
Spending
£3.64m
Surplus
£1.48m
2018–19
Details for 2018–19
£5.01m£3.77m£1.24m
Spending
£3.77m
Surplus
£1.24m
2019–20
Details for 2019–20
£4.9m£4.5m£0.4m
Spending
£4.5m
Surplus
£0.4m
2020–21
Details for 2020–21
£3.91m£4.09m£-0.18m
Spending
£4.09m
Surplus
£-0.18m
2021–22
Details for 2021–22
£6.3m£5.99m£0.31m
Spending
£5.99m
Surplus
£0.31m
2022–23
Details for 2022–23
£6.73m£7.08m£-0.34m
Spending
£7.08m
Surplus
£-0.34m
2023–24
Details for 2023–24
£6.77m£4.84m£1.93m
Spending
£4.84m
Surplus
£1.93m
2024–25
Details for 2024–25
£7.06m£4.78m£2.28m
Spending
£4.78m
Surplus
£2.28m
2025–26
Details for 2025–26
£7.61m£4.78m£2.83m
Spending
£4.78m
Surplus
£2.83m

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

East Sussex CC: on-street and car park accounts
YearOn-street incomeOn-street spendingCar park incomeCar park spendingPenalty income
2017–18
Details for 2017–18
£4.60m£3.27m£0.51m£0.36m£0.00m
On-street spending
£3.27m
Car park income
£0.51m
Car park spending
£0.36m
Penalty income
£0.00m
2018–19
Details for 2018–19
£4.50m£3.39m£0.50m£0.38m£0.00m
On-street spending
£3.39m
Car park income
£0.50m
Car park spending
£0.38m
Penalty income
£0.00m
2019–20
Details for 2019–20
£4.41m£4.05m£0.49m£0.45m£0.00m
On-street spending
£4.05m
Car park income
£0.49m
Car park spending
£0.45m
Penalty income
£0.00m
2020–21
Details for 2020–21
£3.52m£3.68m£0.39m£0.41m£0.00m
On-street spending
£3.68m
Car park income
£0.39m
Car park spending
£0.41m
Penalty income
£0.00m
2021–22
Details for 2021–22
£5.67m£5.39m£0.63m£0.60m£0.00m
On-street spending
£5.39m
Car park income
£0.63m
Car park spending
£0.60m
Penalty income
£0.00m
2022–23
Details for 2022–23
£6.06m£6.37m£0.67m£0.71m£5.80m
On-street spending
£6.37m
Car park income
£0.67m
Car park spending
£0.71m
Penalty income
£5.80m
2023–24
Details for 2023–24
£6.40m£4.43m£0.37m£0.41m£6.40m
On-street spending
£4.43m
Car park income
£0.37m
Car park spending
£0.41m
Penalty income
£6.40m
2024–25
Details for 2024–25
£6.67m£4.36m£0.39m£0.42m£6.67m
On-street spending
£4.36m
Car park income
£0.39m
Car park spending
£0.42m
Penalty income
£6.67m
2025–26
Details for 2025–26
£7.19m£4.33m£0.42m£0.46m£7.19m
On-street spending
£4.33m
Car park income
£0.42m
Car park spending
£0.46m
Penalty income
£7.19m

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. East Sussex CC is recorded as: Shire County.

What can East Sussex CC 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 East Sussex CC compare with other councils?

East Sussex CC 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
East Sussex CC among the England councils nearest it, parking surplus 2025–26
NameSurplus
90. Sevenoaks£3.06m
91. Cheshire East UA£2.91m
92. Calderdale£2.89m
93. Buckinghamshire UA£2.87m
94. East Sussex CC (East Sussex CC)£2.83m
95. South Hams£2.78m
96. Worcester£2.65m
97. Epsom & Ewell£2.64m
98. West Northamptonshire£2.59m

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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