Birmingham City Council has effectively paid fines to itself after its own fleet breached the city’s Clean Air Zone (CAZ) regulations. Since the scheme was introduced in 2021, council-owned vehicles have been charged 3,262 daily fees and penalties, amounting to a total of £472,253.
Internal data shows that the council’s waste management department was responsible for the majority of these violations. Officials have also acknowledged that around one in eight council vehicles still do not meet the zone’s emissions standards.
Under the Clean Air Zone rules, non-compliant cars, vans, and taxis are required to pay a daily charge of £8, while heavier vehicles such as HGVs and coaches are charged £50 per day. Failure to pay within six days results in a £120 penalty, which is reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days.
The situation has raised questions about fleet compliance and the challenges public bodies face in meeting their own environmental standards.
