Wandsworth earns the fifth highest amount of money from parking charges in the country, according to RAC figures.

A survey found in 2013/14 councils made a total of £667m from parking. The council with the biggest surplus was Westminster with £51m. Wandsworth came fifth with a surplus of £19.69m.

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles said town halls were committing “daylight robbery” and ripping-off drivers with parking charges and fines.

Leonie Cooper deputy leader of the opposition said: “Local people will be very surprised to see Wandsworth is number five in a national list of councils raking in money from parking permits and fines, as all the money is supposed to be spent on local roads, which here in Wandsworth are full of potholes.

“I call on the council to use every penny to improve our local roads and streets."

A council spokesman said: “Every penny of the parking surplus is spent on improving Wandsworth’s roads, improving parking facilities and delivering important transport projects. The majority, around £13m, is used to fund concessionary travel initiatives including Blue Badges, Taxi Cards and Freedom Passes.

“Wandsworth is the largest inner London borough so we have a very high number of parking spaces coupled with exceptionally high traffic volumes and parking demands.

"This means income is higher than in smaller, less busy areas. Our charges are in line with other councils and without parking controls many parts of Wandsworth’s road network would be unsafe and unusable.”

The councils with the biggest surplus in 2013/14 before capital charges are as follows:

1. Westminster £51.03m

2. Kensington & Chelsea £33.51m

3. Camden £24.87m

4. Hammersmith & Fulham £22.96m

5. Wandsworth £19.69m

6. Brighton & Hove £18.09m

7. Nottingham City £12.06m

8. Islington £10.38m

9. Tower Hamlets £8.32m

10. Brent £8.31m