COUNCILLORS in Southampton are being urged to come clean over which city services are due to face cutbacks this year.

Council tax bills are due to be decided within the next six weeks at the city's crunch budget setting meeting.

There are fears of cuts to some services and increased charges made to others as city chiefs struggle to balance the books.

The Daily Echo understands that every service from education to tourism and leisure has been examined for potential savings .

Council leader, Councillor Adrian Vinson has moved to quash rumours by city insiders that the ruling Liberal Democrat group wants to try again to revisit the idea of night-time parking charges in the city.

The controversial plans were thrown out last year after uproar from residents and business leaders.

The council's savings drive follows deputy prime minister John Prescott's demand that local authorities should only increase council tax bills by no more than five per cent or face capping.

Liberal Democrats are keeping tight-lipped about their budget plans which are due to be presented to Cabinet within the next two weeks.

But they are facing mounting pressure from opposition and community leaders to come clean.

Already, social services chiefs are trying to plug an estimated £700,000 hole in the department's budget. Peter Wirgman from the Southampton Federation of Residents Associations said: "It is a bit odd for a political party not to brag about what they want to do.

"I would say to the council, government money permitting, what are you planning to do?"

Conservative group deputy leader Councillor Royston Smith said: "I would have expected them to have given us at least some idea of what they are planning."

Labour group leader Councillor June Bridle added: "By not getting the figures earlier, it has meant there is a great job to be done in a great rush and not having the figures is causing difficulties."

Last year, council tax bills for Southampton rose by 2.94 per cent for city services such as road repairs and rubbish collection.

Overall bills for residents rose by 8.4 per cent when the costs of police and fire services were taken into account.

It meant that the average Band D council tax bill last year rose from £1,085.07 to £1,176.43 - an increase of £91.36.

Councillor Vinson would not confirm or deny any rumours circulating where the axe would fall.

He said: "We will be seeking to set a rate to ensure that we are not subject to capping. We have not made any final decisions."