Watford Borough Council raked in more than £2.5 million in income from parking charges and fines in 2013/14.

Parking sales, fees and charges in the borough brought in an income of £2,399,000 from on-street parking and £255,000 from off-street parking during the last financial year, according to Government figures released this month.

This produced a net profit for the council of £215,000 over the period.

The figures also noted that income as a result of penalty charge notices from on-street parking was £651,000 for the 12 months.

Other councils in south west Hertfordshire also benefited from parking sales, fees and charges.

Dacorum Borough Council recorded an income from parking fines for on-street offences of £2,062,000, resulting in a net profit for the authority of £538,000 for the year 2013/14.

Hertsmere Borough Council gained an income of £1,152,000 - £461,000 from on-street parking sales, fees and charges and £691,000 from off-street parking. Some £59,000 of the income was a result of penalty charge notices.

Hertsmere had a net profit on the charges of £141,000.

But Three Rivers District Council had a net loss over the year of £162,000, after an income from on-street parking of £294,000 - £194,000 from penalty notices - and £3,000 from off-street parking during the period.

Last night, Monday, March 9, Watford Borough Council’s cabinet agreed recommendations to change the town's controlled parking scheme policies after a task force concluded there had been a "disappointing escalation" in systematic abuses.

The changes will enable harsher punishments and better hone in on opportunists - including residents who reuse their vouchers and community health workers who have been allowed to use their work permits for social reasons.

A council spokesman confirmed there are currently 399 doctor and health visitor permits issued to 25 organisations across the town, including doctors surgeries and social care services.

The review recommended revoking all current DHV permits and reissuing them under a new pricing structure, which was suggested as £25 for the first five permits for any one organisation and subsequent permits to be £55 each.

Watford Council currently has 43 permits allocated to the Town Hall, which are issued on a 'pool' basis by staff carrying out operational duties such as environmental health visits.

These were also reviewed and the task force suggested a formal criterion for application of these permits be created and established in the traffic regulation orders.