SOUTHAMPTON City Council supremo Councillor Adrian Vinson has 48 hours to decide whether to introduce a controversial scheme to charge drivers for parking at night in the city.

On Monday the ruling Liberal Democrat group will stage a crunch Cabinet meeting which will look again at the proposals which opponents claim will damage the city's booming night-time economy.

Last week, the city's ruling Liberal Democrat group vowed to press ahead with plans which would see drivers charged to park at night in the city for the first time - in spite of being defeated by a 29 to 18 vote at full council.

The move would also see inner city residents charged a massive £450 a year for permits to park second cars.

City bosses say the controversial move is needed to control the number of vehicles coming into the city at night.

But opponents to the scheme including inner city businesses and residents say that plans to charge drivers to park at night would damage Southampton's evening economy - as well as penalising low-paid night-time workers.

Last Thursday the city's powerful

environment and transport scrutiny committee chaired by former city transport supremo, Councillor Richard Williams, pictured right, voted to force the cabinet to look again at the controversial prop-osals.

The panel has recommended scrapping the planned 50p an hour charge for night time parking and slashing the planned £450 charge for second vehicle permits.

Cllr Vinson, pictured right, said: "We are considering and reflecting on what has been said. Nothing has been ruled in and nothing has been ruled out."

He acknowledged that although the arguments for introducing night-time charges still "stood up" the plans would have an impact on people who had expressed concern.

He said: "There is a strong view that the city is not convinced that this is right or necessary."

The latest twist in the night-time car parking row which has engulfed the city was greeted with disbelief by opposition councillors who accused the Liberal Democrats of making policy on the hoof.

Labour group leader Councillor June Bridle said the policy had been introduced without any regard for the impact it would have on low paid people who had to work at night in the city.

She said: "What sort of way is that to run a city?"

Conservative group deputy leader Councillor Royston Smith added: "If they do decide to change their minds I would not be in the least bit surprised.

"I am beginning to think they are making it up as they go along."