Council paid £470k in clean air zone fines to itself, report finds

According to a BBC report, the city council's non-compliant vehicles have been subject to 3,262 daily charges and fines, totalling £472,253.

The CAZ, which covers Birmingham's city centre, introduces charges of £8 per day for non-compliant cars, taxis and large goods vehicles, while non-compliant coaches and heavy goods vehicles must pay £50 per day.

A £120 penalty charge also applies in the event the fee is not paid.

The BBC secured data on the fines using the Environmental Information Regulations.

A Birmingham City Council spokesperson said the council has historically owned and operated a fleet of over 1,100 vehicles, “many of which were not compliant with the Clean Air Zone, and therefore subject to paying the daily fee”.

Just 142 council-owned vehicles remain non-compliant, “but these are already under review and are on track to be removed from the fleet,” the council added.

It also said: “However, over the last 12 months an extensive replacement programme has been put in place so that the entire waste, street cleansing and grounds fleet is now fully compliant with the Clean Air Zone. Further changes have also been made to other vehicles which have either been decommissioned or replaced with electric alternatives.”

The spokesperson said the council’s policy is that drivers are responsible for paying any fines they incur themselves using their own vehicles for work, unless there is evidence that the penalty resulted from a council-related issue or error.

Adam Carey