Confusing service with profit

Late last week the County Council went public with news that it can't turn a profit from its parking enforcement service.  Worse, it forecasts a loss for the current year of £280,000. 

That's a very expensive unloved service of which we see precious little sign out here in the sticks. 

How did this catastrophe come about?  Well, it started with consultants who, to be fair, predicted the service would make a loss during the bedding-in period but assured elected members it would be turning a useful surplus by now.  The recession has obviously been a factor.  But how can parking enforcement in a county with as few car parks as we have, none of which charge a huge amount, possibly cost anything remotely like a quarter-of-a-million?

And why is the County looking to make a profit from the misbehaviour of a small number of residents and visitors?  Break-even should be the target, a small surplus an unlooked-for bonus.

It's all very well bringing the disciplines of private sector business to bear on the activities of public sector organisations.  But the 'business' of councils is service, not profit.  Confuse the two and you're not going to satisfy either your auditors or your electors.