It’s been revealed Swale council made more than £1.5 million last year from its 68 car parks across the borough.

In addition, it rakes in £48,400 in rent from 11 shops it owns, £6,120 is brought in from three pieces of grazing land, £222,089 from 12 industrial properties and an extra £118,673 from three markets.

Together they bring in a total of £395,282 a year.

However, four vacant shops in Rushenden Road, Rushenden, which the council has owned since 1951, will soon be sold off to AmicusHorizon for social housing, subject to planning permission being granted.

Despite owning three pools - Swallows Leisure Centre; Sheerness Swimming Pool and Faversham Pools - as well as Queenborough Harbour the authority doesn’t get any income from them as they are now run by trusts.

The figures came to light after a Freedom of Information request was submitted by the TaxPayers’ Alliance to find out what assets are held by district and borough councils across Britain.

Key findings of the research are that as of April 1, 2014, local authorities own at least 580 restaurants or cafes, 378 pubs, 174 hotels, 2,586 farms, 259 theatres, 191 shopping centres, 7,294 shops and at least 407 golf courses.

It was also revealed that Thanet council owns a wet fish stall, a model railway belongs to Gravesham council, Thurrock council has a bookies and a supermarket, Nottingham City Council owns a bingo club, Dumfries and Galloway council has a cheese factory, Bristol City Council and Harlow council own nightclubs and Copeland council owns pigeon lofts and a betting office.

Cabinet member for finance, Cllr Duncan Dewar-Whalley, said: “Swale council owns land and properties all over the borough.

“We are in a fortunate position of raising income or supporting most of these locations although a few shops have closed and are due to be sold off.

“We as a council have a responsibility to our residents to pass on the benefit of this income so we can supply improved council services and ultimately help keep council tax costs down – something we have managed to achieve for the last five years.”