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Parking income in North Hertfordshire

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

In 2025–26 North Hertfordshire took £3.4m in parking income and spent £3.4m, a deficit of £0.0m against £-0.2m in 2024–25 (+91%), the 253rd largest of 290 councils in England. Penalty charges brought in £0.6m. 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

  • £-0.01mParking deficit up on a year earlier: +£0.16m (+91.5%) vs 2024–25 2025–26
  • £3.41mParking income up on a year earlier: +£0.47m (+15.9%) vs 2024–25 2025–26
  • £3.43mSpending on parking up on a year earlier: +£0.31m (+9.8%) vs 2024–25 2025–26
  • £0.58mPenalty charge income up on a year earlier: +£0.11m (+23.5%) vs 2024–25 2025–26
  • 253 of 290Rank in England, largest surplus first 2025–26

Source: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

How much has North Hertfordshire made from parking each year?

North Hertfordshire: parking income, spending and surplus, £ million
The numbers behind this chart
North Hertfordshire: parking income, spending and surplus, £ million
YearIncomeSpendingSurplus
2017–18
Details for 2017–18
£3.53m£2.65m£0.88m
Spending
£2.65m
Surplus
£0.88m
2018–19
Details for 2018–19
£2.95m£1.93m£1.03m
Spending
£1.93m
Surplus
£1.03m
2019–20
Details for 2019–20
£3.09m£2.31m£0.78m
Spending
£2.31m
Surplus
£0.78m
2020–21
Details for 2020–21
£1.46m£2.01m£-0.55m
Spending
£2.01m
Surplus
£-0.55m
2021–22
Details for 2021–22
£2.58m£2.35m£0.23m
Spending
£2.35m
Surplus
£0.23m
2022–23
Details for 2022–23
£2.83m£2.64m£0.19m
Spending
£2.64m
Surplus
£0.19m
2023–24
Details for 2023–24
£3.02m£3.09m£-0.07m
Spending
£3.09m
Surplus
£-0.07m
2024–25
Details for 2024–25
£2.94m£3.12m£-0.18m
Spending
£3.12m
Surplus
£-0.18m
2025–26
Details for 2025–26
£3.41m£3.43m£-0.01m
Spending
£3.43m
Surplus
£-0.01m

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

North Hertfordshire: on-street and car park accounts
YearOn-street incomeOn-street spendingCar park incomeCar park spendingPenalty income
2017–18
Details for 2017–18
£0.88m£0.98m£2.65m£1.67m£0.36m
On-street spending
£0.98m
Car park income
£2.65m
Car park spending
£1.67m
Penalty income
£0.36m
2018–19
Details for 2018–19
£0.51m£0.57m£2.44m£1.36m£0.34m
On-street spending
£0.57m
Car park income
£2.44m
Car park spending
£1.36m
Penalty income
£0.34m
2019–20
Details for 2019–20
£0.67m£0.70m£2.42m£1.60m£0.50m
On-street spending
£0.70m
Car park income
£2.42m
Car park spending
£1.60m
Penalty income
£0.50m
2020–21
Details for 2020–21
£0.41m£0.46m£1.05m£1.55m£0.25m
On-street spending
£0.46m
Car park income
£1.05m
Car park spending
£1.55m
Penalty income
£0.25m
2021–22
Details for 2021–22
£0.59m£0.63m£1.99m£1.72m£0.41m
On-street spending
£0.63m
Car park income
£1.99m
Car park spending
£1.72m
Penalty income
£0.41m
2022–23
Details for 2022–23
£0.57m£0.62m£2.26m£2.02m£0.39m
On-street spending
£0.62m
Car park income
£2.26m
Car park spending
£2.02m
Penalty income
£0.39m
2023–24
Details for 2023–24
£0.68m£0.73m£2.34m£2.36m£0.49m
On-street spending
£0.73m
Car park income
£2.34m
Car park spending
£2.36m
Penalty income
£0.49m
2024–25
Details for 2024–25
£0.67m£0.71m£2.28m£2.40m£0.47m
On-street spending
£0.71m
Car park income
£2.28m
Car park spending
£2.40m
Penalty income
£0.47m
2025–26
Details for 2025–26
£0.78m£0.90m£2.63m£2.53m£0.58m
On-street spending
£0.90m
Car park income
£2.63m
Car park spending
£2.53m
Penalty income
£0.58m

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. North Hertfordshire is recorded as: Shire District.

What can North Hertfordshire 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 North Hertfordshire compare with other councils?

North Hertfordshire 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
North Hertfordshire among the England councils nearest it, parking surplus 2025–26
NameSurplus
249. Blaby£0.02m
250. Solihull£0.02m
251. Rochdale−£0.00m
252. North Kesteven−£0.01m
253. North Hertfordshire (North Hertfordshire)−£0.02m
254. South Staffordshire−£0.02m
255. Broadland−£0.04m
256. Hinckley & Bosworth−£0.05m
257. Redditch BC−£0.06m

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. A deficit means parking cost the council more than it brought in; the law requires the gap to be met from the general fund.

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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