Request ID: FOI-3685-2324 Date published: 13 February 2024
You asked
I am now specifically interested in data related to ULEZ charges over the past 12 months, focusing on penalty charges issued and the associated enforcement process.
To provide further details on my refined request:
Total Income and Allocation: I would like information on the total income generated by ULEZ charges over the past financial year. Please provide a breakdown of the income distribution, outlining how funds are allocated and spent within Transport for London. Specifically, I am interested in understanding the allocation of ULEZ charge revenue towards various operational and infrastructural expenses, as well as any associated staffing costs related to the administration and management of the ULEZ scheme.
Staffing Costs Related to ULEZ: Please provide details on specific staffing costs related to the ULEZ scheme over the past 12 months. Include the number of personnel employed, their roles and responsibilities, and a breakdown of associated expenses.
Enforcement Process - Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs): I request information on the process for sending Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) to ULEZ non-compliant vehicles. This should encompass details on the procedure followed to initiate and send PCNs, the timeframe for notifying vehicle owners of the charges, as well as any relevant policies or guidelines governing the issuance and processing of PCNs within the ULEZ framework.
Contracted Party Handling Postal Services for PCNs: I am seeking information about the contracted party responsible for handling the postal services related to sending out PCNs for ULEZ non-compliance. This should include the name of the contractor, their contact information, and any relevant agreements or contracts governing this service provision.
We answered
Our Ref: FOI-3685-2324
Thank you for clarifying your request asking for information about Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) charges.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) and our information access policy. I can confirm that we hold some of the information you require. You asked for:
1. Total Income and Allocation: I would like information on the total income generated by ULEZ charges over the past financial year. Please provide a breakdown of the income distribution, outlining how funds are allocated and spent within Transport for London. Specifically, I am interested in understanding the allocation of ULEZ charge revenue towards various operational and infrastructural expenses, as well as any associated staffing costs related to the administration and management of the ULEZ scheme.
The ULEZ was originally launched on 8 April 2019 and covered the same area of central London as the Congestion Charging zone. On 25 October 2021 the ULEZ was expanded to cover the area up to but not including the North and South circular roads. The ULEZ was further expanded to cover all of London on 29 August 2023.
Information on the total income generated by the ULEZ is published in the latest Annual Report (2022/23) (page 162) which is available on our website:
Figures for 2023/24 will be published in the next Annual Report later this year.
It is a statutory requirement that any net revenue generated by our road charging schemes (the ULEZ, LEZ or the Congestion Charge) is reinvested back into London’s transport network for purposes that directly or indirectly facilitate the implementation of any policies or proposals set out in the Mayor’s Transport Strategy, including the roll out of the Superloop network, walking and cycling routes, and funding to London’s boroughs so they can improve their roads. We do not hold a breakdown of how the funds are distributed.
Some of the programmes that the net revenue will be spent on are detailed in the Four-Year General Programme published on our website:
More general information about our income and expenditure is reported in our Annual Report and Accounts (linked above).
2. Staffing Costs Related to ULEZ: Please provide details on specific staffing costs related to the ULEZ scheme over the past 12 months. Include the number of personnel employed, their roles and responsibilities, and a breakdown of associated expenses.
We do not hold this information. Any time spent on activities relating to ULEZ is not recorded and would be part of the normal daily activities for any employees involved.
3. Enforcement Process - Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs): I request information on the process for sending Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) to ULEZ non-compliant vehicles. This should encompass details on the procedure followed to initiate and send PCNs, the timeframe for notifying vehicle owners of the charges, as well as any relevant policies or guidelines governing the issuance and processing of PCNs within the ULEZ framework.
The enforcement process page on our website details all the stages/timeframes:
4. Contracted Party Handling Postal Services for PCNs: I am seeking information about the contracted party responsible for handling the postal services related to sending out PCNs for ULEZ non-compliance. This should include the name of the contractor, their contact information, and any relevant agreements or contracts governing this service provision.
Our contract for the post service is with Capita directly. Capita outsource it to Capita Intelligent Communications (CIC), which is part of the wider Capita group. All of our requirements and contractual elements are covered through the main contract with Capita which is available online:
The value of the contract referenced in published contracts refers to the potential maximum value that the company could gain from delivering these services. Typically these forecast values are significantly higher than the actual amounts.
If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for any reason, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.
Yours sincerely
Gemma Jacob Senior FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
