BUSINESS leaders last night urged Liverpool councillors to make an 11th-hour intervention to save free parking after 6pm.

Tonight, councillors in the city will ratify the local authority’s decision to raise council tax by 4.45%.

Once Police Authority and Fire Authority precepts, of 5% and 3.85%, are included it will see overall bills rise by 4.47%.

It means a Band A household will have an annual bill of £1,007, up £43 from April.

St Helens is likely to approve a 2.5% rise today, and Knowsley will also set its rate today, but has not yet indicated what it will be.

Businesses and the Labour opposition in Liverpool are hoping to amend the council’s decision to extend parking charges from 6pm to 8pm.

Last night, Frank McKenna, chairman of lobby group Downtown Liverpool in Business, said the extension of charging would send out the impression the city was not business-friendly. Deputy council leader Liberal Democrat Cllr Flo Clucas said there would be no changes to the budget, but said a review of all parking across the city was currently under way.

As previously reported, there is deep unease about the proposal within the ruling Lib-Dem ranks.