Revealed: Just how much money councils are making from car parking

The City of Wolverhampton Council came out highest on the list with a £5,097,000 surplus produced from council parking operations between 2011 – 2016.

And it placed 100 out of the national list of 353 councils. The next nearest local authority was Lichfield council which also made more than £5m.

How our councils ranked when compared to authorities situated in the rest of the country for how much money was earned from parking over five years:

• Wolverhampton: 100

• Lichfield: 161

• Stafford Borough Council: 184

• Dudley: 232

• Sandwell: 247

• Cannock Chase: 253

• Walsall: 270

• Staffordshire County Council: 287

• South Staffordshire: 325

The figures come from the statutory annual returns councils make to the Department for Communities and Local Government and are the result of parking operations, including charges and penalty notices, deducting running costs.

In the 2015-16 financial year alone Wolverhampton council had a surplus of £1.8m, Lichfield council made £1m, whilst Stafford Borough Council made £743,000.

Wolverhampton council called the figures 'modest' compared to others.

A spokesman said: "In comparison to other areas, the surplus generated in Wolverhampton from parking enforcement is relatively modest. By law, any surplus from parking enforcement must be reinvested into transportation projects."

Dudley Council, who had a surplus of £2.3m, maintain they have more on-street car parking than any other local council and try to offer free parking.

Dudley councillor Hilary Bills, cabinet member for environmental services, said: "Dudley has more free on-street car parking than any neighbouring council and we take steps to encourage free parking in our town centres where possible, including offering free parking in the town centres on three Saturdays in the run up to Christmas."

On the other end of the spectrum, Walsall Council recorded a loss of £716,000 over the past five years, which they put down to trying to attract more visitors to the area.

In a statement, Walsall Council confirmed: "We do not set targets to generate a surplus, but if any surplus was to be achieved, it would be reinvested into car parking and general highway improvement schemes."

A Sandwell Council spokesperson said: "These figures do not appear to take into account £604,000 of car park capital charges, that can be deducted, leaving a net surplus of £179,000."

Staffordshire County Council's highways leader Mark Deaville said: "Revenue from parking charges is fairly minimal as we do not operate car parks."

South Staffordshire and Cannock Chase council were contacted, but were not available for comment.