Somerset Council is set to invest in excess of £23.2 million on parking enforcement over the next eight years, under a newly agreed contract running until 2034.
As part of its legal responsibilities, the council manages car parking and traffic regulation across Somerset. This includes employing traffic wardens and issuing penalty charge notices (PCNs), both through in-person enforcement and automated camera systems.
The previous contract for these services expired at the end of June. To ensure continuity and prevent disruption, the council has negotiated a new eight-year deal focused on maintaining effective enforcement against motorists who breach regulations.
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The commitment involves an annual expenditure of approximately £3.3 million on parking enforcement, although the expenditure is slightly lower in the first year. Altogether, the contract is valued at just over £23.2 million.
NSL, a division of the London-based Marston Holdings group, will continue to deliver enforcement services. NSL promotes itself as the UK’s leading provider in this sector.
The annual contract cost will increase by £370,000, attributed to broader market dynamics and operational cost pressures. This increase is expected to be balanced by higher revenues from penalty charge notices and pay and display car parks-the latter currently undergoing a separate review.
For the initial contract year, running until April 2027, Somerset Council will allocate just over £2.5 million, followed by yearly payments exceeding £3.3 million for the remainder of the contract term. These figures depend on satisfactory service performance, affordability considerations, and adjustments for inflation.
Vicky Lowman, the council’s Service Manager for Parking, stated in her report: “Parking enforcement plays a critical role in managing the highway network, supporting turnover of parking spaces, maintaining access, improving road safety, and ensuring that controls are applied fairly and consistently.
“We must deliver this within a challenging environment, including budget pressures, recruitment constraints, training requirements, technology demands and increasing customer expectations.”
The council explored the option of bringing parking enforcement services in-house. However, this was ultimately deemed too complex and resource-intensive, with significant initial setup costs.
Ms Lowman emphasized: “Continuing with the existing provider enables retention of an established operating model, experienced workforce, supporting systems and local knowledge. This approach also avoids TUPE implications and reduces mobilisation risk.”
“Awarding this contract provides a stable and scalable service, reduces operational risk, and allows a stronger focus on performance, compliance, customer service and continuous improvement.”