Parking account

Income and expenditure for North Northamptonshire Council 2025/2026

Introduction

Welcome to North Northamptonshire Council’s Traffic Enforcement Services Annual Report, summarising the parking and traffic enforcement responsibilities undertaken by the council during 2025-26. This report outlines key activities, performance, and financial information relating to enforcement operations.

The primary objective of the enforcement is to maintain an appropriate balance between the needs of residents, visitors, businesses, and disabled people, contributing to the economic growth and success of the Authority.

Enforcement is carried out both on street and off street by Council Parking Services. Officers actively patrol and enforce parking restrictions, supporting traffic management and safety responsibilities imposed on local authorities by legislation. Patrols are directed to strategically important routes, areas of high contravention, and sensitive locations in response to public demand.

We aim to enforce restrictions fairly and reasonably. All representations against Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) are considered carefully on a case by case basis. We remain committed to transparency in all Parking Services activities.

In October 2014, the Department for Communities and Local Government issued guidance on the Local Government Transparency Code. The Code aims to increase democratic accountability by making information more accessible, enabling local people to contribute to decision making and shape public services.

The Code requires Local Authorities to publish data including:

• a breakdown of income and expenditure for parking, moving traffic, and bus lane accounts
• details of how any surplus income is spent
• the number of controlled on  and off street parking spaces

This report provides a comprehensive record of activities during the 2025-26 financial year and explains how the service is managed.

The council’s Corporate Plan provides a clear policy backdrop for car parking, even though it is not referenced directly. The Community priority, which focuses on safe, clean and well-connected places, is particularly relevant. Car parks are a highly visible part of the public realm and have a direct impact on how town centres and local facilities function. Good quality parking supports access, improves safety and helps manage traffic, all of which contribute to places people are confident using.

There is also a strong link to the Prosperity priority. Accessible and well-functioning car parking continues to underpin town centre footfall and local economic activity, especially in the market towns. As town centres evolve, car parks increasingly act as gateways that support a wider mix of uses, longer visits and leisure activity. In this way, parking infrastructure plays a practical role in supporting business vitality and investment.

Finally, the Corporate Plan’s emphasis on delivering smarter, faster and fairer public services supports the ongoing improvement of parking provision. This includes modernising infrastructure, improving customer experience and ensuring parking remains accessible to different user groups. Alongside the council’s wider environmental commitments, the plan provides a clear and proportionate justification for maintaining and investing in car parking as a core council asset.

Parking enforcement

Although it is not possible to measure precisely the contribution of Civil Parking Enforcement to all objectives, given the many influencing factors, it is clear that well planned enforcement supports wider traffic management goals.

Patrols have focused on areas with the highest parking demand, including:

• town centres
• car parks
• permit zones
• disabled bays
• high risk locations

There are approximately 3483 parking spaces across North Northamptonshire.

Top 10 PCN issued locations

Bus lane and bus gate enforcement

North Northamptonshire Council aims to support reliable and punctual public transport. Bus lanes and bus gates improve journey times and reduce congestion when used correctly.

There is currently one enforcement site, Market Street, Wellingborough.

Misuse of bus lanes reduces their effectiveness and increases the risk of accidents. Cameras record vehicles using bus lanes/gates, and PCNs may be issued based on this evidence. Enforcement officers review recordings to confirm whether a contravention occurred or whether mitigating circumstances existed:

• Penalty charge: £70, reduced to £35 if paid within 21 days
• Representations may be made within 28 days of issue

Moving traffic enforcement

The council enforces moving traffic contraventions using designated powers. There is currently one site, George Street, Corby:

• Two cameras enforcing a prohibition of motor vehicles
• Operational 8am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday
• Camera went live in April 2024
• Warning notices issued for first time contraventions during the initial six months

Resident parking schemes

Resident Permit Parking Zones operate in:

• Kettering Zones listed
• Wellingborough Zones listed
• Oundle Zone listed

Permit types include:

• resident permits
• visitor permits
• business permits
• temporary and discretionary permits

Schemes are introduced following requests from residents who struggle to park near their homes due to commuter or visitor parking. While a permit does not guarantee a space, it provides priority access and significantly improves parking availability for residents.

The Traffic Management Act 2004 states that permit charges should cover the cost of administering and enforcing the scheme.

The statutory guidance also states:

• Revenue forecasting is required for good governance
• Raising revenue must not be the objective of enforcement
• Surplus income must be used in accordance with Section 55 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984

Traffic penalty tribunal

During the year, the Traffic Penalty Tribunal received 144 appeals relating to North Northamptonshire Council PCNs.

The Tribunal is free and independent.

Financial information

The statutory guidance reiterates that enforcement authorities must not set revenue targets. Penalty charges exist to deter contraventions, not to raise income.

Payments received must be used in accordance with Section 55 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. Amendments under the Traffic Management Act allow surplus income to be used for general transport measures where no further off street parking is required.

Last updated 11 May 2026