News from Westminster Labour
Westminster’s financial strategy in tatters after parking fine income falls by more than £20m
Westminster Council’s income from Parking Fines has halved in the last three years, according to figures obtained by Labour Councillors. Since 2007/08 the Council’s income from parking fines has been cut from £41 million to £20 million, while during the same period parking charges have brought in £48 million in 2009/10 – an increase of £6 million since 2007/08.
This massive fall in Parking Fine income has led to a huge financial crisis in Westminster, leading to the sacking of over 350 staff, big cuts in services and massive increases in charges for some services.
Labour Councillors say that the reliance on income from Parking Fines to finance local services has left Westminster’s Conservatives responsible for a major crisis in local public services, above and beyond the cuts in services for which the Coalition Government is responsible.
Councillor Paul Dimoldenberg, Leader of the Labour Group, said: “For years Westminster Conservatives have based their entire financial strategy on ever-increasing income from motorists breaking the law and getting parking tickets. Now that motorists have got wise to Westminster’s parking operations, income from parking fines has halved by £20 million and the Council’s entire financial strategy is in tatters.
“Income from parking charges is up, primarily because of pay-by-phone technology, but the shortfall between the Council’s total parking income in 2010 is £69 million is still £15 million down on the 2007 figure of £84 million.
“Westminster Conservatives like to boast about their alleged reputation for ‘financial prudence’ but their reliance on income from parking fines to provide basic services shows just how flimsy their financial structures have been over many years.”
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