14,054 Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) were issued for parking violations and 29,234 PCNs for driving illegally in bus lanes, stopping in a yellow box junction or on zig zag lines in the first quarter of this financial year

The income currently received in the first quarter is £943,225 but there are 6,493 PCNs still outstanding.

When estimating how much money these outstanding PCNs will generate, the Council has factored in the average appeals that are accepted and the average number of notices written off.

The estimated additional income from the outstanding PCNs is expected to reach £250,789.

When adding this to the £943,225 already received, the total income reaches £1,194,014.  

The costs this quarter will reach an estimated £1,167,848, giving an estimated surplus of just over £26,160.  Costs include capital repayments for the equipment used, the operating costs as well as the cost of the office work and appeals process.

The income and cost figures are based on certain assumptions.

In terms of the cost, this is worked out on the expected costs for the entire year divided by four, which give the estimated costs for the first quarter of 2017.

In terms of the income, as offenders have a specific time period to pay or appeal, the number of charge notices issued during this time period doesn't correspond with the amount of money received.

So certain assumptions have to be made to ensure the comparison between money received and the costs incurred are valid.

Any surplus is ring-fenced for road safety and transport improvements which is combined with any surplus money from car parks and on-street pay and display charges.  

In 2016/17 £464,000 was invested into road safety and transport improvements including 20 mph Zones, 75% residential parking (lines & signage), digital driver feedback signs and keep clear zones at schools.

In 2017/18 the investment is estimated to be approximately £622,000 with this money also being spent to make improvements to keep clear zones outside a number of schools.  

Cllr Caro Wild, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Transport, said: "I have set out my ambitions on how we need to improve public transport to encourage people to leave their cars at home and consider alternatives.

"By freeing up the bus lanes, we will make travel by bus more direct and quicker to make it a more viable option for both residents and commuters.

"We do not run or manage buses in Cardiff, but we are committed to improving the infrastructure so that we can help to improve the services for all the operators."

He added: "If people abide by the Highway Code, they will not be penalised.

"We ask everyone using the highway network to understand that parking illegally, driving in bus lanes, stopping illegally in a yellow box junction or on zig zag lines causes unnecessary congestion and poses a danger to other road users. "

Further updates on the actual audited profits received from this scheme will be released when they are available.