Parking fees for Cannock Chase Council workers

Staff and councillors are to be charged for parking at their workplace by Cannock Chase Council.

The move, which will come into effect from April 1, was among measures in the authority's budget which were approved last night.

The council has also announced eight compulsory redundancies.

It will cost staff £130 a year to use the car parks.

The £14.5 million budget for 2011-2012 proposed by the controlling Liberal Democrat group was approved by 16 votes to nine at a full council meeting yesterday.

Labour councillors abstained from voting on that and on an alternative Conservative budget which was also defeated 16 to nine.

Council leader councillor Neil Stanley said the authority had delivered a zero rise in council tax.

"Whilst it would be impossible to bridge such a wide budget gap without any pain, I am confident the proposals I am making today on behalf of the cabinet represent the best possible match with the council's objectives within the funds we expect to have available," he said.

The revenue budget is down from £15.3m this year.

Councillor Gordon Ball said the controlling group's other proposal to start charging disabled blue badge holders for car parking was short-sighted.

Councillor Stanley said they were examining whether a system could be introduced so that only badge holders not receiving benefits could be charged.

Councillor Diane Bennett hit out at Tory proposals to start charging for car parks on Sundays and bank holidays as "hypocrisy" and said it would hit traders.

The budget also involves increases in charges for cemetery services

* An average Band D council tax payer in Cannock Chase will continue to pay £197.01 for district council services in 2011-2012.