PLANS to extend car parking charging until 8pm in Liverpool city centre will be put on hold.

Although the council will have the power to extend charging from 6pm to 8pm from April, the Liberal Democrat administration has agreed not to implement the change until an inquiry into parking has concluded.

The inquiry is unlikely to recommend the extension of parking charges be introduced, the Daily Post understands. The decision was welcomed by business leaders who said they hoped the inquiry would recommend free parking on weekends.

The breakthrough came as the local authority rid itself of the worst council in the country label after the Audit Commission awarded it two stars out of four.

Last night, a meeting of the full council agreed to increase its share of 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%.

From April, the average band D home will pay an extra £65, bringing the total annual bill to £1,511.

Last month, the regeneration select committee set up a special scrutiny panel to look at city centre parking.

It followed opposition to the council’s plan to introduce charging for parking after 6pm.