Published on Friday 05 July 2019
Any surplus raised through parking fines and on-street parking charges is reinvested to improve car parking facilities, facilitate public passenger transport, as well as improvements to the town’s road network, all of which benefit motorists both visitors and residents.
This is in line with the provisions of Section 88 to Part 6 of the Traffic Management Act 2004 and Section 55 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 in relation to on-street parking places.
Income from off street parking charges is not subject to Section 55 of the 1984 Act and this surplus can be used to help deliver services, including those to more vulnerable members of our community, such as social care or education, as well as helping to minimise cuts required to balance the Council’s overall budget.
Gary Powell, Head of Highways and Transportation, BCP Council, said: "This year only 1.1% of the Council’s budget comes from Government grants and in order to protect front line services, councils have to source other forms of income. Using this surplus means the Council is not relying on any money raised through Council Tax so the Council Tax levels can be kept as low as possible.
"It also means that we can review car parking charges and last year we were pleased to be able to maintain existing levels of car parking charges across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole with no increases to fees."