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Parking income in South Gloucestershire UA

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

In 2025–26 South Gloucestershire UA took £1.3m in parking income and spent £1.8m, a deficit of £0.5m against £-1.0m in 2024–25 (+49%), the 283rd largest of 290 councils in England. Penalty charges brought in £0.5m. 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

  • £-0.49mParking deficit up on a year earlier: +£0.46m (+48.6%) vs 2024–25 2025–26
  • £1.34mParking income up on a year earlier: +£0.83m (+163.2%) vs 2024–25 2025–26
  • £1.83mSpending on parking up on a year earlier: +£0.37m (+25.3%) vs 2024–25 2025–26
  • £0.47mPenalty charge income up on a year earlier: +£0.00m (+0.9%) vs 2024–25 2025–26
  • 283 of 290Rank in England, largest surplus first 2025–26

Source: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

How much has South Gloucestershire UA made from parking each year?

South Gloucestershire UA: parking income, spending and surplus, £ million
The numbers behind this chart
South Gloucestershire UA: parking income, spending and surplus, £ million
YearIncomeSpendingSurplus
2017–18
Details for 2017–18
£0.72m£1.1m£-0.38m
Spending
£1.1m
Surplus
£-0.38m
2018–19
Details for 2018–19
£0.59m£0.92m£-0.33m
Spending
£0.92m
Surplus
£-0.33m
2019–20
Details for 2019–20
£0.74m£0.97m£-0.23m
Spending
£0.97m
Surplus
£-0.23m
2020–21
Details for 2020–21
£0.47m£0.94m£-0.47m
Spending
£0.94m
Surplus
£-0.47m
2021–22
Details for 2021–22
£0.49m£0.89m£-0.4m
Spending
£0.89m
Surplus
£-0.4m
2022–23
Details for 2022–23
£0.52m£1.07m£-0.54m
Spending
£1.07m
Surplus
£-0.54m
2023–24
Details for 2023–24
£0.53m£1.09m£-0.56m
Spending
£1.09m
Surplus
£-0.56m
2024–25
Details for 2024–25
£0.51m£1.47m£-0.95m
Spending
£1.47m
Surplus
£-0.95m
2025–26
Details for 2025–26
£1.35m£1.84m£-0.49m
Spending
£1.84m
Surplus
£-0.49m

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

South Gloucestershire UA: on-street and car park accounts
YearOn-street incomeOn-street spendingCar park incomeCar park spendingPenalty income
2017–18
Details for 2017–18
£0.53m£0.65m£0.19m£0.44m£0.00m
On-street spending
£0.65m
Car park income
£0.19m
Car park spending
£0.44m
Penalty income
£0.00m
2018–19
Details for 2018–19
£0.51m£0.62m£0.08m£0.30m£0.45m
On-street spending
£0.62m
Car park income
£0.08m
Car park spending
£0.30m
Penalty income
£0.45m
2019–20
Details for 2019–20
£0.66m£0.67m£0.09m£0.30m£0.57m
On-street spending
£0.67m
Car park income
£0.09m
Car park spending
£0.30m
Penalty income
£0.57m
2020–21
Details for 2020–21
£0.41m£0.64m£0.07m£0.30m£0.34m
On-street spending
£0.64m
Car park income
£0.07m
Car park spending
£0.30m
Penalty income
£0.34m
2021–22
Details for 2021–22
£0.42m£0.65m£0.07m£0.25m£0.35m
On-street spending
£0.65m
Car park income
£0.07m
Car park spending
£0.25m
Penalty income
£0.35m
2022–23
Details for 2022–23
£0.46m£0.65m£0.07m£0.41m£0.38m
On-street spending
£0.65m
Car park income
£0.07m
Car park spending
£0.41m
Penalty income
£0.38m
2023–24
Details for 2023–24
£0.47m£0.75m£0.05m£0.34m£0.39m
On-street spending
£0.75m
Car park income
£0.05m
Car park spending
£0.34m
Penalty income
£0.39m
2024–25
Details for 2024–25
£0.47m£0.90m£0.04m£0.57m£0.46m
On-street spending
£0.90m
Car park income
£0.04m
Car park spending
£0.57m
Penalty income
£0.46m
2025–26
Details for 2025–26
£0.48m£1.03m£0.87m£0.80m£0.47m
On-street spending
£1.03m
Car park income
£0.87m
Car park spending
£0.80m
Penalty income
£0.47m

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. South Gloucestershire UA is recorded as: Unitary Authority.

What can South Gloucestershire 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 South Gloucestershire UA compare with other councils?

South Gloucestershire 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
South Gloucestershire UA among the England councils nearest it, parking surplus 2025–26
NameSurplus
279. Bolsover−£0.30m
280. Leicestershire CC−£0.31m
281. Derbyshire CC−£0.33m
282. Breckland−£0.33m
283. South Gloucestershire UA (South Gloucestershire UA)−£0.49m
284. Knowsley−£0.53m
285. Slough UA−£0.62m
286. Staffordshire CC−£0.70m
287. Wealden−£0.74m

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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