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Parking income in Medway Towns UA

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

In 2025–26 Medway Towns UA took £11.0m in parking income and spent £5.9m, a surplus of £5.1m against £5.2m in 2024–25 (−1%), the 58th largest of 290 councils in England. Penalty charges brought in £3.9m. 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

  • £5.11mParking surplus down on a year earlier: −£0.07m (−1.4%) vs 2024–25 2025–26
  • £11.00mParking income up on a year earlier: +£0.79m (+7.7%) vs 2024–25 2025–26
  • £5.89mSpending on parking up on a year earlier: +£0.86m (+17.1%) vs 2024–25 2025–26
  • £3.89mPenalty charge income up on a year earlier: +£3.89m vs 2024–25 2025–26
  • 58 of 290Rank in England, largest surplus first 2025–26

Source: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

How much has Medway Towns UA made from parking each year?

Medway Towns UA: parking income, spending and surplus, £ million
The numbers behind this chart
Medway Towns UA: parking income, spending and surplus, £ million
YearIncomeSpendingSurplus
2017–18
Details for 2017–18
£8.76m£3.74m£5.02m
Spending
£3.74m
Surplus
£5.02m
2018–19
Details for 2018–19
£8.41m£4.19m£4.21m
Spending
£4.19m
Surplus
£4.21m
2019–20
Details for 2019–20
£8.19m£4.08m£4.11m
Spending
£4.08m
Surplus
£4.11m
2020–21
Details for 2020–21
£3.91m£3.59m£0.33m
Spending
£3.59m
Surplus
£0.33m
2021–22
Details for 2021–22
£6.99m£3.66m£3.33m
Spending
£3.66m
Surplus
£3.33m
2022–23
Details for 2022–23
£8.22m£3.95m£4.28m
Spending
£3.95m
Surplus
£4.28m
2023–24
Details for 2023–24
£8.63m£3.89m£4.74m
Spending
£3.89m
Surplus
£4.74m
2024–25
Details for 2024–25
£10.21m£5.03m£5.19m
Spending
£5.03m
Surplus
£5.19m
2025–26
Details for 2025–26
£11m£5.89m£5.11m
Spending
£5.89m
Surplus
£5.11m

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

Medway Towns UA: on-street and car park accounts
YearOn-street incomeOn-street spendingCar park incomeCar park spendingPenalty income
2017–18
Details for 2017–18
£3.15m£1.63m£5.60m£2.11m£3.14m
On-street spending
£1.63m
Car park income
£5.60m
Car park spending
£2.11m
Penalty income
£3.14m
2018–19
Details for 2018–19
£3.24m£1.96m£5.17m£2.23m£1.71m
On-street spending
£1.96m
Car park income
£5.17m
Car park spending
£2.23m
Penalty income
£1.71m
2019–20
Details for 2019–20
£3.19m£1.95m£5.00m£2.13m£1.47m
On-street spending
£1.95m
Car park income
£5.00m
Car park spending
£2.13m
Penalty income
£1.47m
2020–21
Details for 2020–21
£2.06m£1.65m£1.85m£1.94m£0.98m
On-street spending
£1.65m
Car park income
£1.85m
Car park spending
£1.94m
Penalty income
£0.98m
2021–22
Details for 2021–22
£2.70m£1.71m£4.29m£1.95m£1.27m
On-street spending
£1.71m
Car park income
£4.29m
Car park spending
£1.95m
Penalty income
£1.27m
2022–23
Details for 2022–23
£3.11m£1.69m£5.11m£2.26m£3.09m
On-street spending
£1.69m
Car park income
£5.11m
Car park spending
£2.26m
Penalty income
£3.09m
2023–24
Details for 2023–24
£3.52m£1.91m£5.10m£1.98m£0.00m
On-street spending
£1.91m
Car park income
£5.10m
Car park spending
£1.98m
Penalty income
£0.00m
2024–25
Details for 2024–25
£3.73m£2.58m£6.49m£2.44m£0.00m
On-street spending
£2.58m
Car park income
£6.49m
Car park spending
£2.44m
Penalty income
£0.00m
2025–26
Details for 2025–26
£4.05m£3.14m£6.95m£2.75m£3.89m
On-street spending
£3.14m
Car park income
£6.95m
Car park spending
£2.75m
Penalty income
£3.89m

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. Medway Towns UA is recorded as: Unitary Authority.

What can Medway Towns UA 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 Medway Towns UA compare with other councils?

Medway Towns UA 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
Medway Towns UA among the England councils nearest it, parking surplus 2025–26
NameSurplus
54. Chelmsford£5.57m
55. Chichester£5.38m
56. Wiltshire UA£5.37m
57. Torbay UA£5.29m
58. Medway Towns UA (Medway Towns UA)£5.11m
59. Harrow£5.10m
60. Plymouth UA£5.06m
61. Sheffield£4.99m
62. Lincoln City£4.97m

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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