Hounslow Council has been accused of double standards after it covered parking fines incurred by its employees and contractors while enforcing penalties on members of the public for similar infringements. Data obtained by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) shows that between April 2025 and March 2026, the council paid itself hundreds of pounds for parking and driving fines in the borough, effectively letting off workers who flouted rules that would have resulted in penalties for the public.
Council paid fines for employees and contractors
The fines were for staff parking incorrectly or driving on restricted streets. Each fine was charged to the service within the council where the offending employee worked. Hounslow Council says it is "for the service to recover the cost from the driver of the vehicle," but there appears to be no specific direction that this must happen. In some cases, the council used taxpayer money to pay penalties issued to third parties working on behalf of the authority.
For example, fines worth £80 and £205 were levied against vehicles from the council fleet used by landscaping firm Lampton Greenspace 360 that were driven on a restricted street. Another £80 fine was levied against a vehicle used by facilities maintenance firm Coalo that was parked without a valid ticket. Rather than charge the contractors, the council covered the cost.
Council bus and waste service fines covered
On one occasion, a council bus used by the authority's health outreach team was issued an £80 fine after being parked in contravention of local restrictions. The council department appealed the penalty but was unsuccessful. Instead of charging the offending driver, the council used its own funds to cover the cost, stating it was done because the employee was working at the time. A £130 fine was also paid on behalf of the Waste and Recycling service for an incorrectly parked vehicle.
It is not only self-imposed fines that have been paid out of the public purse. One council employee was fined £160 in private parking charges while carrying out their job. However, council management concluded that the driver "reasonably believed their permits covered the locations in question and were therefore not at fault," so the taxpayer covered the cost. The FOI also uncovered instances where receipts for employee expenses were lost but the costs were still covered.
Comparison with public enforcement
In November 2025, the LDRS revealed that single mum and NHS nurse Loretta Alvarez was fined £1,000 for "fly-tipping" when she left an envelope next to her overflowing council bins. At the time, Loretta said she genuinely did not believe this was fly-tipping. Councillor Jack Emsley, Leader of the Hounslow Conservative Group, said this experience is shared by residents across the borough.
Reacting to the findings, Cllr Emsley 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 frontline council services are being forced to find savings whilst frivolous expenses are paid out without receipts should embarrass Hounslow Council - it simply wouldn't be allowed in a well run private sector business."
Political reaction and past incidents
He added: "Perhaps the worst issue uncovered in this report is that the council has paid for dozens of PCN fines, including parking tickets given to council drivers. Thousands of residents have been stung by the council's heavy handed approach to fines and traffic enforcement. 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."
This is not the first time the Labour-led Hounslow Council has faced accusations of enforcing a double standard. In November 2025, the LDRS revealed how then councillor for Hounslow Health, Farhaan Rehman, parked his Lamborghini in a disabled parking space without a blue badge on two occasions. Days later, then Feltham West councillor Hina Mir also parked in a disabled spot. Both councillors are understood to have paid the equivalent of a parking fine for the infringements, but only after the LDRS' reporting.
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."
