THE amount of money brought in to Glasgow City Council from towing away illegally parked cars has been slashed in the last five years.

Figures show council coffers are making 72 per cent less last year than in 2013.

In 2017/18, Glasgow City Council brought in £117,530 but in 2013/14 it took £428,502.

In fact, every year it has reduced gradually until between 2016 and 2017 when  it more than halved.

A council spokesman said a relocation of the pound has reduced last year’s income but also that driver behaviour is improving.

But a former committee chairman says the dramatic drop may be because traffic wardens are not being replaced.

Councillor Paul Carey said: “It’s down to two things, in my opinion — early retirement and officers being told not to told not replace people who leave or retire early.”

A motorist needs to pay £150 to recover their vehicle from Glasgow City Council pounds.

They are also slapped with a parking ticket which can be paid for £30 within two weeks, or thereafter £60.

In 2013/14, £428,502 was recovered from drivers reclaiming their cars, around 2850 motorists.

Since then it has fallen: £373,840 in 2014/15; £330,355 in 2015/16; £290,765 in 2016/17 and £117,765 in 2017/18.

The stark fall 52 per cent fall between 2016/17 and 2017/18 would possibly represent 1,938 to 784 vehicles reclaimed.

A spokesman for the council said: “The low income for 2017/18 is directly linked to the relocation of our vehicle pound to a new facility, which impacted on the work of the vehicle removal team for several months.’

“However, driver behaviour has also been changing and fewer vehicles are being uplifted due to unlawful parking.

“Levels of enforcement activity have remained broadly consistent in recent years.”

Mr Carey was the chairman of Land and Environmental Services Committee and City Parking in the last Labour administration.

The Drumchapel councillor added: “The current administration needs to step up its act and make sure these posts are filled.

“When I chaired LES and CP, I was constantly at the Chief Executive to make sure parking staff levels were where we can operate efficiently.

“Clearly over the last couple of years staff have not been replaced, and I think this is so officers can put in a saving in the budget.”