CONTROVERSIAL plans to charge drivers to park at night in Southampton are due to be debated again at a crunch meeting by city bosses today.

The city's ruling Liberal Democrat Cabinet are due to meet to discuss the proposals which would also see inner city residents charged £450 a year for permits for second vehicles.

Last week, city chiefs vowed to press ahead with the plans - despite being defeated by a 29 to 18 vote at full council.

But they were forced to look again at the proposals after the city's powerful environment and transport committee demanded a rethink of the scheme.

The plans have caused outrage among inner city residents and business leaders who say the proposals will damage the city's booming night-time economy.

But civic chiefs led by Southampton supremo Councillor Adrian Vinson say that the scheme, which will see drivers charged 50p an hour from 5.30pm to 10.30pm, is necessary to control the number of vehicles coming into the city at night.

Labour's chairman of the environment and transport scrutiny panel, Councillor Richard Williams, said scrutiny members were urging the Cabinet to drop the planned evening charges altogether.

He said: "The panel made further specific recommendations on the matter of charging city centre residents £450 for a second permit.

"The panel felt this was unfair and effectively a second council tax bill on these residents."