HEY PRESTO - civic chiefs pulled off a Harry Potter-style magic act last night to keep council tax rises below four per cent while scrapping some proposals to hit residents in the pocket.

From April the bill for an average Band D property will go up 3.97 per cent from £1,176.43 to £1,223.21 including the cost of police and fire services - a rise of £46.78.

Civic chiefs had been looking at an increase of 4.89 per cent but the Liberal Democrat and Labour groups struck a deal following nine hours of negotiations - one of the shortest budget meetings in recent times.

It was in marked contrast to the past two years when council tax rose by 18.5 per cent and 8.4 per cent. Scores of jobs were also axed to balance the books in 2003.

This time around, out went the threat of night-time parking charges for drivers who were facing having to pay to park in the city between 5.30pm and 6.30pm for the first time.

Other winners were the city's pensioners, who saw controversial plans to increase concessionary bus fares from 30p to 40p shelved.

There was some better news also for disabled campaigners who had been faced with average rises in their care costs of 30 per cent. They will now face an average 17.5 per cent increase.

Extra funding has been earmarked for street cleaning, waste disposal and tackling antisocial behaviour, with schemes such as city patrol officers and work in schools with disruptive children.

Care for people with learning disabilities and pensioners with mental health problems will also get more cash.

A one-off grant of £60,000 was agreed to commemorate the 60th anniversaries of VE and VJ days this summer.

Labour councillors managed to introduce a scheme which will give subsidised bus travel for 16 and 17-year-olds in education, which will cost city bosses £100,000 in the financial year 2005/06.

Another Labour project included in the budget plans will see some grass verges on the city's roads converted into parking spaces.

However, the elderly will pay an extra 30p a day for meals-on-wheels service with hot dinners rising from £2.65 to £2.95.

Commuters also lost out as councillors agreed to charge drivers £5 a day to leave their vehicles in district car parks such as Bitterne, Swaythling, Shirley and Woolston.

Millions of pounds of savings will be made by better management of council services, using fewer agency and temporary staff and leaving empty posts unfilled for longer.

Councillors also agreed to slash the number of consultants used by city bosses.

There will no compulsory redundancies, although some vacant posts will go under a re-organisation of staff.

City council leader Councillor Adrian Vinson, pictured above, added: "The three political groups on the council have all engaged in constructive discussions.

"We have made significant savings and we try to spread the burden in the fairest way possible. There are also initiatives which respond to what local people tell us they care most about, such as tackling antisocial behaviour and improving the local environment and the state of the roads and pavements."

Labour group leader Councillor June Bridle said: "We are delighted that many of our proposals have been included. We have forced a lower council tax rate on them while delivering several of our key initiatives.

"Keeping down older people's bus fares and not increasing night-time car parking charges have been successes."

However, Conservative group leader Councillor Alec Samuels accused the Lib Dem and Labour groups of entering into a pact to run the city.

He said: "We have, yet again, a Lib-Lab pact. Nearly four per cent is way above inflation. We are pleased to see some of the things we didn't like taken out. We have to be grateful for small mercies."

WHAT RESIDENTS WILL HAVE TO PAY:

Band A - £815.47

Band B - £951.38

Band C - £1,087.30

Band D - £1,223.21

Band E - £1,495.03

Band F - £1,766.86

Band G - £2,038.68

Band H - £2,446.42