Aberdeen City Council made £5million in parking charges and fines last year, according to new figures.
The RAC Foundation found that the city council made a record profit from parking charges and fines between 2013 and 2014, although the figure was dwarfed by the proceeds made in Glasgow and Edinburgh.
The foundation’s analysis found that a total of £73.3million was raised across Scotland during 2013-14, with a combined cost to the councils running the activities hitting £39.9million – leaving a total profit of £33.5million.
In Aberdeen, the profit was £5million, while Glasgow City Council made £10.3million and Edinburgh City Council £15.3million.
Last night the authority stressed money made from penalties was used to improve infrastructure around the city to benefit other motorists.
Neil Cooney, convener of the authority’s communities, housing and infrastructure committee said it was an “ongoing issue”.
He said: “The money that we make from the fines, and it’s not just parking fines it’s also the bus lane enforcement, is all recycled into transport projects, projects which otherwise would probably not be funded.
“We’re talking about upgrading core paths, encouraging bike mobility in schools, even the upgrading of things like bus shelters all come from parking fines.
“Parking is a perennial problem. You’ve got to have parking in the city centre, if you don’t then you kill the city centre’s shops, and if you restrict it people sometimes overstay their limit and get fined.
“I wish the fines were less, I wish the fees were less, but it’s the reality of the world we’re in at the present moment.”
Professor Stephen Glaister, director of the RAC Foundation, said: “These numbers tell the definitive story of who is making what from public parking in Scotland.
“Not all authorities are generating a surplus but overall we are talking about big money.
“Nobody wants a parking free-for-all but when we are talking about such large sums, local authorities should be transparent with residents and drivers about what their parking policy is, why charges are set at the level they are and where the profits are going.”
Last week, councillors in Aberdeen agreed to reduce the number of on-street parking meters across the city by 25% to encourage more people to use a pay-by-phone service. They believe it will cut costs on repairs and maintenance.