Louise Laybury commented on Simon Jupp’s Twitter post moaning about car parking charges asking him whether Lib Dem’s blaming Conservatives for the lack of investment within council owned spaces and therefore the need to put up [parking] prices was fact or fiction?

He didn’t answer the question directly but said that it was an incoherent argument that he was used to from “our” poorly run council. He then added: “Increased parking charges should be invested back into car parks as per government advice. If they aren’t, I’ll look into their spending a little deeper…”

Unfortunately this statement has failed Owl’s fact checking team.

It is factually incorrect, false in other words.

Somewhat surprising since Simon Jupp is a Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Transport!

Louise, the answer to your question is FACT, (and the government trousers 20% of the parking fees to boot). – Owl

Report from Owl’s fact checking team

In East Devon most of the carparks are run by  EDDC (East Devon District Council), and on street parking by DCC (Devon County Council).

DCC is responsible for “on-street parking”  and is restricted by Government legislation  to ensure  any surplus after expenditure from fees is required to be spent on enforcing parking, contributing to off-street parking provision and, if the provision of further off-street parking is unnecessary or undesirable funds can be spent on public transport or highway improvements only.

*20% VAT is not applicable to on street parking and therefore “0 rated”.

EDDC is responsible for “off-street parking” in their carparks under Government legislation  any surplus after expenditure can be used for “environmental improvement” which can  include.

(a) The reduction of environmental pollution (as defined in the Pollution Prevention and Control Act 1999)

(b) Improving or maintaining the appearance or amenity of a road or land in the vicinity of a road, or open land or water to which the general public has open access.

(c) The provision of outdoor recreational facilities available to the general public without charge.

Therefore, in the case of EDDC this could include waste collections, street cleaning,
public conveniences, recreational open space, expenditure on the countryside or commons.

*20% VAT is required to be charged for off street parking therefore 20p in the £ goes directly to Government.

Consultation for off street parking requirements

If parking charges are to be introduced  at new locations that were previously free, then under the RTRA Road Traffic Regulations Act 1984 an Authority is required to  carry out a full “public consultation”.

If prices are to be changed, it is perfectly legal for a council to make a “parking order” and to simply provide a “public notice“ at each carpark and council office and website to inform the public of an intended price change.

Conservative government funding reduction

Since 2010 this Council along with all other authorities have seen significant cuts in general Government funding to support core service delivery, a reduction in funding of 50p in the pound since that point.

Government Funding to EDDC for General Services 2010	£7m
2010 funding indexed link to 2023	£10.3m
Actual Baseline Funding 2023	£5m

Summary of the facts

• East Devon is the only District Council in Devon not to borrow from reserves or cut services for this current year and we continually provide a balanced budget.
• There is not a government requirement that carpark charges are invested back into carparks.
• Government funding has halved in real terms since 2010.
• The Government benefit from carpark charges at 20p in the pound.