To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local authorities cited efficiencies in (a) parking charges and (b) parking enforcement in their submissions of (i) forward and (ii) backward look annual efficiency statements to her Department in each year since their inception. (191659)

Local authorities report their efficiency gains to the Department for Communities and Local Government through annual efficiency statements, which are published on the Department’s website at:

www.communities.gov.uk/localgovernment/efficiencybetter/deliveringefficiency

Guidance to councils on the completion of annual efficiency statements is available at:

www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/measuringreporting

This makes clear that the introduction of a new charge or fine, or an increase in an existing charge or fine does not in itself constitute an ‘efficiency’ and therefore should not be included in the annual efficiency statement.

Councils that referenced ‘parking’ in their most recent efficiency statements may have made these gains from improvements to any aspect of their parking service, and not simply through more efficient management of parking charges or enforcement.