MOTORISTS handed over a record £5.8million to Kent councils in parking fines last year, according to new figures.

There was a record number of tickets issued to motorists who parked in breach of parking regulations in 2006-2007, with 226,334 fines handed out, compared with 223,903 the previous year.

But the increase in tickets over the last five years is even more marked, with nearly 66,000 more issued this year than was the case in 2001-02.

However, while £5.81million was raised this year, the costs to Kent councils of enforcement and administering fixed penalty notices approached £6.2million, leaving a deficit of nearly £300,000.

Seven district and borough councils spent thousands more enforcing regulations than they received in fines for illegal on-street parking.

Shepway council had the greatest deficit. It received £301,607 in fines but spent £471,372 in administration, leaving it with a deficit of nearly £170,000.

The greatest surplus was in Ashford, which received £417,500 but spent £330,551 on administration, leaving it with a balance of close to £87,000. Councils who raise more money are allowed to retain it so long as how it is spent is agreed with KCC.

The figures, released in Kent County Council’s annual report on parking strategy, come as councils weigh up whether to implement Government proposals that could see motorists paying even more in fines for more serious offences, such as parking on single yellow lines.

The proposal for different bands could see motorists facing fines of £70 for such offences and £60 for parking without a ticket.

In another proposal, councils will also be given the authority to issue tickets to motorists if they are caught on CCTV for a range of offences, such as driving the wrong way down a one-way street.

In other figures, the number of motorists who had their tickets waived rose to 38,460 in 2006-07 from 35,831 the previous year. Of those, some 5,646 were for disabled badge holders.

County councillors are due to consider the report at a meeting on Tuesday.