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Parking income in Three Rivers

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

In 2025–26 Three Rivers took £0.8m in parking income and spent £1.0m, a deficit of £0.2m against £-0.2m in 2024–25 (+21%), the 273rd largest of 290 councils in England. Penalty charges brought in £0.2m. 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

  • £-0.20mParking deficit up on a year earlier: +£0.05m (+20.9%) vs 2024–25 2025–26
  • £0.80mParking income up on a year earlier: +£0.09m (+12.9%) vs 2024–25 2025–26
  • £1.00mSpending on parking up on a year earlier: +£0.04m (+4.1%) vs 2024–25 2025–26
  • £0.23mPenalty charge income up on a year earlier: +£0.01m (+5.0%) vs 2024–25 2025–26
  • 273 of 290Rank in England, largest surplus first 2025–26

Source: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

How much has Three Rivers made from parking each year?

Three Rivers: parking income, spending and surplus, £ million
The numbers behind this chart
Three Rivers: parking income, spending and surplus, £ million
YearIncomeSpendingSurplus
2017–18
Details for 2017–18
£0.34m£0.33m£0.01m
Spending
£0.33m
Surplus
£0.01m
2018–19
Details for 2018–19
£0.49m£0.52m£-0.02m
Spending
£0.52m
Surplus
£-0.02m
2019–20
Details for 2019–20
£0.46m£0.52m£-0.05m
Spending
£0.52m
Surplus
£-0.05m
2020–21
Details for 2020–21
£0.25m£0.48m£-0.23m
Spending
£0.48m
Surplus
£-0.23m
2021–22
Details for 2021–22
£0.41m£0.59m£-0.18m
Spending
£0.59m
Surplus
£-0.18m
2022–23
Details for 2022–23
£0.41m£0.59m£-0.18m
Spending
£0.59m
Surplus
£-0.18m
2023–24
Details for 2023–24
£0.53m£0.81m£-0.27m
Spending
£0.81m
Surplus
£-0.27m
2024–25
Details for 2024–25
£0.71m£0.96m£-0.25m
Spending
£0.96m
Surplus
£-0.25m
2025–26
Details for 2025–26
£0.8m£1m£-0.2m
Spending
£1m
Surplus
£-0.2m

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

Three Rivers: on-street and car park accounts
YearOn-street incomeOn-street spendingCar park incomeCar park spendingPenalty income
2017–18
Details for 2017–18
£0.22m£0.22m£0.12m£0.11m£0.22m
On-street spending
£0.22m
Car park income
£0.12m
Car park spending
£0.11m
Penalty income
£0.22m
2018–19
Details for 2018–19
£0.22m£0.23m£0.27m£0.28m£0.15m
On-street spending
£0.23m
Car park income
£0.27m
Car park spending
£0.28m
Penalty income
£0.15m
2019–20
Details for 2019–20
£0.31m£0.23m£0.15m£0.29m£0.12m
On-street spending
£0.23m
Car park income
£0.15m
Car park spending
£0.29m
Penalty income
£0.12m
2020–21
Details for 2020–21
£0.00m£0.19m£0.25m£0.29m£0.00m
On-street spending
£0.19m
Car park income
£0.25m
Car park spending
£0.29m
Penalty income
£0.00m
2021–22
Details for 2021–22
£0.41m£0.18m£0.00m£0.41m£0.12m
On-street spending
£0.18m
Car park income
£0.00m
Car park spending
£0.41m
Penalty income
£0.12m
2022–23
Details for 2022–23
£0.12m£0.18m£0.28m£0.41m£0.00m
On-street spending
£0.18m
Car park income
£0.28m
Car park spending
£0.41m
Penalty income
£0.00m
2023–24
Details for 2023–24
£0.53m£0.67m£0.00m£0.14m£0.14m
On-street spending
£0.67m
Car park income
£0.00m
Car park spending
£0.14m
Penalty income
£0.14m
2024–25
Details for 2024–25
£0.25m£0.42m£0.46m£0.54m£0.22m
On-street spending
£0.42m
Car park income
£0.46m
Car park spending
£0.54m
Penalty income
£0.22m
2025–26
Details for 2025–26
£0.28m£0.44m£0.52m£0.56m£0.23m
On-street spending
£0.44m
Car park income
£0.52m
Car park spending
£0.56m
Penalty income
£0.23m

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. Three Rivers is recorded as: Shire District.

What can Three Rivers 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 Three Rivers compare with other councils?

Three Rivers 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
Three Rivers among the England councils nearest it, parking surplus 2025–26
NameSurplus
269. Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority−£0.16m
270. Stockton-on-Tees UA−£0.16m
271. Gedling−£0.19m
272. Pendle−£0.19m
273. Three Rivers (Three Rivers)−£0.20m
274. Mansfield−£0.20m
275. North Lincolnshire UA−£0.21m
276. West Oxfordshire−£0.23m
277. Dartford−£0.23m

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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