THE 'profit' made by Bradford Council from parking charges more than halved last year, a survey revealed today.

In the 2013/14 financial year, the authority made £1,127,000 from parking tickets and fines - down from £2,629,000 for the previous 12 months.

The Council's income from parking put them 135th out of 353 authorities across the country.

Neighbouring Calderdale Council banked £1,027,000 (150th) in 2013/14, while in 23rd-placed Leeds there was £6,894,000 raked in from parking fines and charges.

Fifty-five councils reported negative numbers. The figures are calculated by adding up income from parking charges and penalty notices, then deducting running costs.

Mike Cartwright, of Bradford Chamber, said: "While it is not good to have less income at a time when the Council is looking for budget reductions, it also means less staff resource processing fewer penalties. These staff can then be utilised for more positive and productive activities.

"If the reduction in income means that fewer parking offences are being committed, then that is good for the retailers, office occupiers, and visitors into the city.

"We would expect that visitor numbers into the city will increase from now on with changes taking place on North Parade, for example, and Westfield.

"And so, better quality driving and parking in the district is going to be important for Bradford's future reputation."

Professor Stephen Glaister, director of the RAC Foundation, criticised councils which have made large increased profits from parking charges.

"Parking profits seem to be a one way street for councils having risen annually for the last five years. Yet over the same period spending on local roads has fallen about a fifth in real terms," he said.

“We understand the pressures councils are under with their overall income still falling and the level of services they have to provide in such areas as social care rising rapidly.

“One sign that the escalation in parking profits might be coming to an end is that much of this year’s increase comes not from growing income from penalties and charges but cuts in the cost of parking operations. This suggests local authorities are making efficiency savings and should bring some good news to both drivers and council tax payers.

“The bottom line is that parking policy and charges must be about managing traffic not raising revenue.”

But Local Government Association transport spokesman Peter Box said: "This report shows parking fines have gone down and that councils have become more efficient at running parking services. This means councils can spend the extra income on filling potholes and tackling the £12 billion repair bill to bring our roads up to scratch.

"The RAC Foundation also fails to take into account a likely growing demand for parking from traffic increases on our roads and the important role parking services play in reducing congestion and keeping pedestrians and motorists safe as a result.

"Councils are on the side of hard-pressed motorists. The reality is that the average motorist is paying 30 times more to Whitehall in charges and taxation each year than they do to their town hall through parking."

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