CAR parking fees in Burnley look set to rise to pay for a new engineering supremo to oversee the council's crime-watch camera schemes.

An across-the-board increase of 10p from July would raise the £20,000 needed to pay for the post of engineering services manager of Burnley Council's CCTV schemes.

The decision on exactly how the charges will be changed to raise the money needed will be decided at a full council meeting next week, members of the policy and resources committee agreed last night.

The first hour's charges may remain unchanged to encourage short-stay visits.

Coun Harry Brooks said the answer, instead of increasing car parking charges for everyone, was to progress with the long-delayed scheme to make the town hall car park into a shoppers' short-stay car park. He was told that would also bring in an estimated £20,000.

Planning chairman Steven Large said parking was a key feature of the council's transport strategy.

The parking charges are part of Burnley's budget proposals agreed last night but subject to approval by the full council next week.

The council is also looking for joint funding to create a post of anti-social behaviour officer.

Burnley and Padiham Community Housing has been asked to support the scheme and have suggested that other housing associations should also be approached for funding.

The committee approved a council tax rise for Burnley of 4.5 per cent, making an overall increase including Lancashire County Council and Police Authority charges of 5.3 per cent. If approved by the full council meeting next week, band D charges will go up.

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