28.05.15
Council found to have unlawfully increased parking fees
An auditor has released a report in the public interest after finding a council unlawfully increased parking fees to help fund other services.
The report, from Grant Thornton, followed a complaint about North Dorset District Council’s 2012-13 accounts.
The objection stated that the council had increased its parking charges for inappropriate, and therefore potentially unlawful, reasons.
In setting car parking charges, councils are required to comply with the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (RTRA). It does not allow councils to deliberately make a surplus from charges to fund other services.
John Gregory, director at Grant Thornton, said: “In our view the council's decision to increase fees in 2012-13 to support other services was therefore unlawful.
"We acknowledge that councils need to look at all possible ways of balancing the books in this time of austerity, but any income generation must be undertaken within the confines of the law.
"North Dorset District Council has recognised its error in 2012-13 and will ensure that all future fees and charges are set in the context of the specific requirements of relevant legislation."
North Dorset’s Leader Cllr Deborah Croney said the authority accepted the auditor’s findings and recommendations and had “already addressed the issue”.
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