Birmingham City Council has been accused of 'spending money left right and centre' after it was revealed that the authority fined itself nearly half a million pounds for breaking its own Clean Air Zone (CAZ) rules.
Council Fines Itself £470,000
Since the launch of the Clean Air Zone in 2021, council-owned vehicles have racked up 3,262 separate daily charges and fines, totalling £472,253. The waste department was responsible for the majority of these breaches.
Officials have admitted that approximately one in eight council vehicles still do not comply with the zone's requirements.
Clean Air Zone Charges
The daily charge for non-compliant cars, vans and taxis is currently £8, while HGVs and coaches face a £50 fee. Drivers who fail to pay within six days of entering the zone receive a £120 penalty, reduced to £60 if settled within a fortnight.
Kings Heath Food Bank coordinator Sharon Power said: "The country's in this state: people are having to choose to heat or eat and they're [the council] spending money right, left and centre. It's absolutely appalling."
Council Response
A council spokesperson said that a central Vehicle Management Service has been established "to fast-track transition to a modernised, low emission fleet… driving efficiency, economy, safety and sustainability."
They added that only 142 (12%) of the 1,170 council-owned vehicles in its fleet, as of 31 March, remained non-compliant with the CAZ requirements. A "large number of these vehicles were minibuses related to social services and education provision."
The spokesperson also said the council was looking to develop "eco driving" across the fleet, monitoring throttle usage, speed, mileage and idling to reduce fuel usage and carbon emissions.
