South Gloucestershire Conservatives have criticised the Liberal Democrat and Labour Administration after new figures presented to Scrutiny Committee revealed that the Council's Parking Services budget remains heavily in deficit despite the introduction of controversial car parking charges across the district.
The latest financial figures show a projected Parking Services deficit of £689,127, higher than the £656,000 deficit inherited from the previous Conservative Administration in 2023, despite residents, shoppers and businesses now being forced to pay car parking charges in South Gloucestershire.
Conservative Councillors challenged the Administration during the scrutiny of the Car Parking Charges 2025/26 report, raising serious concerns about the financial management of the service and questioning why local people are paying more while the Council's position has continued to deteriorate.
The Conservatives highlighted that, in the years before the car parking charges, the Administration had overseen a cumulative parking services deficit of more than £1.1 million, calling into question the financial competence of the Administration.
Further concerns were raised over discrepancies within figures contained in the report itself. In relation to Yate car parks, the report suggests a total income of approximately £97,000 from short-stay and long-stay parking. However, when the individual figures are added together, the total appears to be closer to £71,000, potentially indicating that the overall deficit is even higher than reported.
Conservative Councillors sought clarification on the figures and called on the Administration to explain whether this was an error in the report or a wider issue concerning financial oversight.
Leader of the South Gloucestershire Conservative Group Cllr Liz Brennan, said:
"Residents were told that introducing car parking charges was necessary to improve the Council's finances. Yet despite burdening local people, damaging our high streets and creating additional costs for businesses, the Council's parking budget is now in a worse position than when Conservatives left office in 2023 when car parking was free.
The figures simply do not stack up. Not only has the Administration failed to deliver the financial benefits it promised, but Councillors have also identified apparent inconsistencies within the report itself that require urgent explanation.
At a time when our high streets are already facing significant challenges, local businesses need support, not additional barriers that discourage people from visiting and shopping locally."
Throughout the Scrutiny Committee meeting, Conservative Councillors challenged the Lib Dem and Labour Administration on the financial performance of the parking service, the impact on local economies and the accuracy of the figures being presented.
The Conservative Group maintains that the policy has failed residents, failed businesses and failed high streets.
