Response 4045587

Response to request for information

Reference

4045587

Response date

7 July 2026

Request

Please provide the following information relating to abandoned vehicles:

1. The total number of reports of abandoned vehicles received by the council for each of the last five financial years (2019/20, 2020/21, 2021/22, 2022/23, 2023/24).
2. The total expenditure incurred by the council in the removal of abandoned vehicles for each of the same five financial years.
3. Whether the council has a contract in place with a private provider for the removal of abandoned vehicles. If so, please provide:
   1. The name of the contractor.
   2. The annual payment made to that contractor for each of the last five financial years.
   3. The start and end date of the current contract.
4. The specific statutory powers used by the council to authorise the removal of abandoned vehicles (for example, the Refuse Disposal (Amenity) Act 1978, the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, or other legislation).
5. Whether the council is a registered DVLA Power Partner for the purpose of accessing vehicle keeper data in connection with abandoned vehicle enforcement.
6. For each of the last five financial years, the average and maximum number of days elapsed between an initial report of an abandoned vehicle being received and the vehicle being removed or the case being closed.
7. For each of the last five financial years:
   1. The number of reported vehicles that were found to be untaxed (no valid Vehicle Excise Duty) at the time of inspection.
   2. The number of reports that were assessed and subsequently closed on the basis that the vehicle did not meet the criteria to be classed as abandoned.

Response

1. The total number of reports of abandoned vehicles received by the council for each of the last five financial years (2019/20, 2020/21, 2021/22, 2022/23, 2023/24).
   • See the spreadsheet below for the response.
2. The total expenditure incurred by the council in the removal of abandoned vehicles for each of the same five financial years.
   • See the spreadsheet below for the response.
3. Whether the council has a contract in place with a private provider for the removal of abandoned vehicles. If so, please provide:
   • No contractor in place.
4. The specific statutory powers used by the council to authorise the removal of abandoned vehicles (for example, the Refuse Disposal (Amenity) Act 1978, the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, or other legislation).
   • RDA 1978
5. Whether the council is a registered DVLA Power Partner for the purpose of accessing vehicle keeper data in connection with abandoned vehicle enforcement.
   • No
6. For each of the last five financial years, the average and maximum number of days elapsed between an initial report of an abandoned vehicle being received and the vehicle being removed or the case being closed.
   • See the spreadsheet below for the response.
7. For each of the last five financial years:
   1. The number of reported vehicles that were found to be untaxed (no valid Vehicle Excise Duty) at the time of inspection.
   2. The number of reports that were assessed and subsequently closed on the basis that the vehicle did not meet the criteria to be classed as abandoned.
      • See the spreadsheet below for the response.

Spreadsheet containing responses to this request.