Hounslow Council has been accused of double standards after records revealed public money was used in some instances to pay parking and driving penalties incurred by employees and contractors working on behalf of the authority.
Data obtained through a Freedom of Information request shows that between April 2025 and March 2026, the council paid hundreds of pounds in fines issued for parking and traffic offences involving council staff, council vehicles and contractors.
The penalties included fines for vehicles being driven on restricted streets, parking without valid permits and breaches of local parking restrictions.
According to the council, each penalty is charged to the relevant service department and it is then for that service to recover the cost from the driver where appropriate. However, the records do not indicate whether those costs were subsequently recovered in every case. Among the fines paid were penalties issued to vehicles operated by contractors working on behalf of the council.
Two fines worth £80 and £205 were issued to vehicles from the council fleet used by landscaping company Lampton Greenspace 360 after they were driven on a restricted street. Another £80 fine was issued to a vehicle used by facilities maintenance firm Coalo after it was parked without a valid ticket.
In each case, the council covered the cost rather than charging the contractor directly.
Records also show that a council bus being used by the authority’s health outreach team received an £80 penalty after being parked in contravention of local restrictions.
The department responsible appealed against the fine, but the appeal was unsuccessful. The council then paid the penalty instead of charging the driver, stating that the offence occurred while the employee was carrying out council duties.
Elsewhere, a £130 parking penalty was paid on behalf of the council’s Waste and Recycling service. The records also reveal that one council employee received £160 worth of private parking charges while undertaking work duties. Council management concluded that the employee reasonably believed their permits covered the locations in question and was therefore not at fault. The charges were subsequently paid using public funds.
The findings have prompted criticism from opposition councillors, who argue that residents are routinely expected to pay penalties imposed by the council while staff and contractors have, in some instances, had costs covered by taxpayers.
Cllr Jack Emsley, leader of the Hounslow Conservative Group, said the figures would anger residents at a time when council services are facing financial pressures. He said: “Council services faced millions in cuts in the last budget, so these latest expenses figures will come as a slap in the face for local residents.”
“The fact that taxpayers are also having to bail out council employees who are given the same fines just reinforces the feeling that it’s one rule for Hounslow Council, and another rule for the rest of us.”
The issue comes after previous controversies involving council figures and parking enforcement. In November 2025, reports emerged that former cllr Farhaan Rehman had parked his Lamborghini in a disabled bay without displaying a Blue Badge on two occasions. Days later, former cllr Hina Mir was also found to have parked in a disabled space.
Both are understood to have paid the equivalent of a parking fine following the incidents.
Responding to the latest findings, a spokesperson for Hounslow Council said: “The council takes the stewardship of public money very seriously and has clear controls in place governing the use of corporate payment cards.
“All transactions are reviewed and charged against service budgets, with budget holders responsible for ensuring expenditure is appropriate and in line with council policies.”
The council maintains that procedures are in place to recover costs from drivers where appropriate, though the records do not specify how often this occurs in practice.
