I naively thought, happen the council was (squeaky clean and ) actually a victim for once.
After reading your comment, I must say you have a fair point, especially the money that goes back in "the purse"

....
....Someone must think that a nice smooth Tarmac surface is superior to those flags that are uneven and cracked though

Maybe it's them that are pushing a shopping trolley, wheelchair or in one of them mobility scooters?
Also, Tarmac doesn't have a tendency to become broken when motorists park their cars on it (which I hear some motorists in that area do

).