Birmingham City Council has paid more than £470,000 to itself in fines after its own vehicles breached the council’s Clean Air Zone (CAZ) policy. Since the scheme was introduced in the city centre five years ago, non-compliant vehicles in the council’s fleet have accumulated 3,262 daily charges and fines totalling £472,253.
Clean Air Zone Charges and Penalties
Clean Air Zones impose charges on vehicles that fail to meet minimum emissions standards. In Birmingham, the daily charge is £8 for cars, vans, and taxis, and £50 for HGVs and coaches unless a valid exemption is in place. Failure to pay within six days of entering the zone results in a £120 fine, reduced to £60 if settled within 14 days.
The data, obtained by the BBC under Environmental Information Regulations, did not specify whether the council paid higher fines for late payments over the five-year period. The most recent fines from the past financial year, covered by council purchase cards, were all paid by City Operations.
Waste Department Vehicles and Bin Strike
The majority of vehicles incurring charges belonged to the waste department, despite a bin strike that has been ongoing in the city since January 2025. A council spokesperson explained that the council historically owned and operated a large fleet of over 1,100 vehicles, many of which were non-compliant with the CAZ and therefore subject to daily fees. However, a replacement programme over the past year has reduced this number to 142. These remaining vehicles are under review and “on track to be removed from the fleet,” ensuring that “the entire waste, street cleansing and grounds fleet is now fully compliant with the Clean Air Zone.”
In a statement, the spokesperson added: “Further changes have also been made to other vehicles which have either been decommissioned or replaced with electric alternatives. The council’s policy is that drivers are responsible for paying any fines they incur themselves using their own vehicles for work, unless there is evidence that the penalty resulted from a council-related issue or error.”
