Any surplus made through parking fees and charges must be invested into transport and highways. This is a legal requirement. In 2023 to 2024, after direct costs, there was a surplus of £18,540,578 a reduction of 5% compared to 2022 to 2023.
| Spending supported by civil parking enforcement income surplus | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concessionary fares | £10,655,014 | £10,637,762 | £9,644,448 |
| Capital investment borrowing costs | £1,648,580 | £1,798,705 | £1,772,058 |
| Supported bus services and other publictransport services | £1,452,756 | £1,663,928 | £516,544 |
| Contribution to eligible transport related expenditure | £6,810,946 | £5,417,460 | £6,607,529 |
| Total | £20,567,296 | £19,517,855 | £18,540,578 |
Use of surplus income from parking charges and penalty charges is governed by section 55 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. Once the need for provision of off-street parking facilities and to make good deficits to central funding has been met, use of surplus is currently confined to the provision of public transport services or to road, air quality or environmental improvements.
In 2023 to 2024 the Brighton & Hove City Council’s Bus Service Improvement Plan provided funding from HM Government for capital and revenue schemes to support bus services across the city. This allowed for the provision and enhancement of socially and economically necessary bus services across the city. These services were previously funded through the council’s Public Transport budget in FY22-23 and earlier. School routes are exempt from this and remain funded through the Public Transport budget.
A nationally mandatory bus concession for older and disabled people has been in place since 2001. The scheme has gradually been extended since its introduction and since April 2008 has provided free off-peak local bus travel to eligible older and disabled people anywhere in England.
A large proportion of the Parking Services financial surplus is spent on providing free travel for both the elderly and disabled citizens. In 2023 to 2024 we continued to pay bus operators at pre pandemic levels adhering to guidance from the Department for Transport.
£9,644,448 was spent on this service in financial year 2023 to 2024.