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Parking income in Torbay UA

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

In 2025–26 Torbay UA took £9.0m in parking income and spent £3.7m, a surplus of £5.3m against £5.8m in 2024–25 (−9%), the 57th largest of 290 councils in England. Penalty charges brought in £1.2m. 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

  • £5.29mParking surplus down on a year earlier: −£0.50m (−8.7%) vs 2024–25 2025–26
  • £8.97mParking income down on a year earlier: −£0.48m (−5.0%) vs 2024–25 2025–26
  • £3.68mSpending on parking up on a year earlier: +£0.03m (+0.7%) vs 2024–25 2025–26
  • £1.16mPenalty charge income down on a year earlier: −£0.83m (−41.8%) vs 2024–25 2025–26
  • 57 of 290Rank in England, largest surplus first 2025–26

Source: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

How much has Torbay UA made from parking each year?

Torbay UA: parking income, spending and surplus, £ million
The numbers behind this chart
Torbay UA: parking income, spending and surplus, £ million
YearIncomeSpendingSurplus
2017–18
Details for 2017–18
£6.4m£2.6m£3.8m
Spending
£2.6m
Surplus
£3.8m
2018–19
Details for 2018–19
£7.71m£2.35m£5.36m
Spending
£2.35m
Surplus
£5.36m
2019–20
Details for 2019–20
£7.23m£2.34m£4.89m
Spending
£2.34m
Surplus
£4.89m
2020–21
Details for 2020–21
£5.19m£2.44m£2.76m
Spending
£2.44m
Surplus
£2.76m
2021–22
Details for 2021–22
£8.53m£2.66m£5.87m
Spending
£2.66m
Surplus
£5.87m
2022–23
Details for 2022–23
£7.62m£2.84m£4.78m
Spending
£2.84m
Surplus
£4.78m
2023–24
Details for 2023–24
£9.89m£4.87m£5.02m
Spending
£4.87m
Surplus
£5.02m
2024–25
Details for 2024–25
£9.45m£3.66m£5.79m
Spending
£3.66m
Surplus
£5.79m
2025–26
Details for 2025–26
£8.97m£3.68m£5.29m
Spending
£3.68m
Surplus
£5.29m

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

Torbay UA: on-street and car park accounts
YearOn-street incomeOn-street spendingCar park incomeCar park spendingPenalty income
2017–18
Details for 2017–18
£2.21m£0.86m£4.19m£1.74m£0.40m
On-street spending
£0.86m
Car park income
£4.19m
Car park spending
£1.74m
Penalty income
£0.40m
2018–19
Details for 2018–19
£3.09m£0.56m£4.62m£1.79m£1.10m
On-street spending
£0.56m
Car park income
£4.62m
Car park spending
£1.79m
Penalty income
£1.10m
2019–20
Details for 2019–20
£3.01m£0.60m£4.22m£1.74m£1.08m
On-street spending
£0.60m
Car park income
£4.22m
Car park spending
£1.74m
Penalty income
£1.08m
2020–21
Details for 2020–21
£2.49m£0.59m£2.70m£1.85m£1.08m
On-street spending
£0.59m
Car park income
£2.70m
Car park spending
£1.85m
Penalty income
£1.08m
2021–22
Details for 2021–22
£4.05m£0.63m£4.48m£2.03m£1.81m
On-street spending
£0.63m
Car park income
£4.48m
Car park spending
£2.03m
Penalty income
£1.81m
2022–23
Details for 2022–23
£2.85m£0.68m£4.77m£2.16m£0.44m
On-street spending
£0.68m
Car park income
£4.77m
Car park spending
£2.16m
Penalty income
£0.44m
2023–24
Details for 2023–24
£4.95m£2.43m£4.95m£2.43m£1.65m
On-street spending
£2.43m
Car park income
£4.95m
Car park spending
£2.43m
Penalty income
£1.65m
2024–25
Details for 2024–25
£4.41m£1.05m£5.04m£2.61m£2.00m
On-street spending
£1.05m
Car park income
£5.04m
Car park spending
£2.61m
Penalty income
£2.00m
2025–26
Details for 2025–26
£3.55m£1.06m£5.42m£2.62m£1.16m
On-street spending
£1.06m
Car park income
£5.42m
Car park spending
£2.62m
Penalty income
£1.16m

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. Torbay UA is recorded as: Unitary Authority.

What can Torbay 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 Torbay UA compare with other councils?

Torbay 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
Torbay UA among the England councils nearest it, parking surplus 2025–26
NameSurplus
53. Canterbury£6.11m
54. Chelmsford£5.57m
55. Chichester£5.38m
56. Wiltshire UA£5.37m
57. Torbay UA (Torbay UA)£5.29m
58. Medway Towns UA£5.11m
59. Harrow£5.10m
60. Plymouth UA£5.06m
61. Sheffield£4.99m

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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