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Parking income in South Oxfordshire

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

In 2025–26 South Oxfordshire took £1.8m in parking income and spent £1.2m, a surplus of £0.7m against £0.8m in 2024–25 (−14%), the 187th largest of 290 councils in England. 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

  • £0.65mParking surplus down on a year earlier: −£0.10m (−13.7%) vs 2024–25 2025–26
  • £1.85mParking income up on a year earlier: +£0.30m (+19.4%) vs 2024–25 2025–26
  • £1.20mSpending on parking up on a year earlier: +£0.40m (+50.6%) vs 2024–25 2025–26
  • £0.00mPenalty charge income unchanged on a year earlier: no change vs 2024–25 2025–26
  • 187 of 290Rank in England, largest surplus first 2025–26

Source: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

How much has South Oxfordshire made from parking each year?

South Oxfordshire: parking income, spending and surplus, £ million
The numbers behind this chart
South Oxfordshire: parking income, spending and surplus, £ million
YearIncomeSpendingSurplus
2017–18
Details for 2017–18
£0.99m£0.7m£0.3m
Spending
£0.7m
Surplus
£0.3m
2018–19
Details for 2018–19
£1.1m£0.99m£0.11m
Spending
£0.99m
Surplus
£0.11m
2019–20
Details for 2019–20
£-1.08m£0.54m£-1.63m
Spending
£0.54m
Surplus
£-1.63m
2020–21
Details for 2020–21
£0.73m£0.68m£0.05m
Spending
£0.68m
Surplus
£0.05m
2021–22
Details for 2021–22
£1.02m£0.67m£0.36m
Spending
£0.67m
Surplus
£0.36m
2022–23
Details for 2022–23
£1.02m£0.68m£0.34m
Spending
£0.68m
Surplus
£0.34m
2023–24
Details for 2023–24
£1.38m£0.74m£0.64m
Spending
£0.74m
Surplus
£0.64m
2024–25
Details for 2024–25
£1.55m£0.8m£0.75m
Spending
£0.8m
Surplus
£0.75m
2025–26
Details for 2025–26
£1.85m£1.2m£0.65m
Spending
£1.2m
Surplus
£0.65m

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

South Oxfordshire: on-street and car park accounts
YearOn-street incomeOn-street spendingCar park incomeCar park spendingPenalty income
2017–18
Details for 2017–18
£0.00m£0.00m£0.99m£0.70m£0.00m
On-street spending
£0.00m
Car park income
£0.99m
Car park spending
£0.70m
Penalty income
£0.00m
2018–19
Details for 2018–19
£0.00m£0.00m£1.10m£0.99m£0.00m
On-street spending
£0.00m
Car park income
£1.10m
Car park spending
£0.99m
Penalty income
£0.00m
2019–20
Details for 2019–20
£0.00m£0.00m£-1.08m£0.54m£0.00m
On-street spending
£0.00m
Car park income
£-1.08m
Car park spending
£0.54m
Penalty income
£0.00m
2020–21
Details for 2020–21
£0.00m£0.00m£0.73m£0.68m£0.00m
On-street spending
£0.00m
Car park income
£0.73m
Car park spending
£0.68m
Penalty income
£0.00m
2021–22
Details for 2021–22
£0.00m£0.00m£1.02m£0.67m£0.00m
On-street spending
£0.00m
Car park income
£1.02m
Car park spending
£0.67m
Penalty income
£0.00m
2022–23
Details for 2022–23
£0.00m£0.00m£1.02m£0.68m£0.00m
On-street spending
£0.00m
Car park income
£1.02m
Car park spending
£0.68m
Penalty income
£0.00m
2023–24
Details for 2023–24
£0.00m£0.00m£1.38m£0.74m£0.00m
On-street spending
£0.00m
Car park income
£1.38m
Car park spending
£0.74m
Penalty income
£0.00m
2024–25
Details for 2024–25
£0.00m£0.00m£1.55m£0.80m£0.00m
On-street spending
£0.00m
Car park income
£1.55m
Car park spending
£0.80m
Penalty income
£0.00m
2025–26
Details for 2025–26
£0.00m£0.00m£1.85m£1.20m£0.00m
On-street spending
£0.00m
Car park income
£1.85m
Car park spending
£1.20m
Penalty income
£0.00m

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 Oxfordshire is recorded as: Shire District.

What can South Oxfordshire 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 Oxfordshire compare with other councils?

South Oxfordshire 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 Oxfordshire among the England councils nearest it, parking surplus 2025–26
NameSurplus
183. Wolverhampton£0.67m
184. Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority£0.66m
185. Eastbourne£0.65m
186. Epping Forest£0.65m
187. South Oxfordshire (South Oxfordshire)£0.65m
188. Wychavon£0.65m
189. Warrington UA£0.64m
190. Salford£0.64m
191. Gateshead£0.58m

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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