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  Councils do have a problem.
  
  Their government funding is down for good reasons and Councils rates are capped, also for good reasons, though I would hope that localist reforms will eliminate the need for that soon.
  
  They can raise fees or cut spending.
  
  I am sure there is room for cuts - for instance anyone employed with the word 'diversity' or 'equalities' in their job title should be automatically cut, so they can find something else useful to do with their lives in the private sector.
  
  But that is not going to be enough.
  
  Services are going to have to be examined, first of all to see how they might be delivered more efficiently or, indeed, whether they should be delivered at all.
  
  They will also need to see if some services should go onto the uncapped Parish and Town Council budgets instead of being paid for at District level, but that needs the sensible cooperation of the lower authority willing to put aside political differences in the interest of the public.
  
  What else is there?
  
  Fees and charges but there is a limited to what you can do here with the law of diminishing returns.
  
  Putting up penalites though sounds a logical and sensible approach. If you dont want to pay the higher fine then do not overstay your time or park where you should not do so - easy.

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