Gravesham Council is set to raise parking charges and re-instate Saturday parking fees in a bid to avoid a £610,000 budget overspend this year.

Redundancies within the council are also expected as action is taken to avoid the biggest overspend in the council’s history.

Parking fees have raised £60,000 less than expected in the first five months of the financial year and plans are in place to hike them up to raise extra much-needed money.

The cutting of government grants by £1.3 million since the budget was drawn up has contributed to leaving finances in disarray.

Big savings were expected from the natural loss of staff, such as those whose posts expired.

Original plans stated that £746,000 was expected to be saved through staff reductions but natural wastage only saved £483,000, leaving a £263,000 shortfall.

Other huge losses came from reduced revenue from planning fees, accounting for a £162,000 loss.

Council leader Councillor John Burden blamed the previous Conservative council for the failings.

He said: “We will maintain free parking after 6pm and also the residents parking discounts – we want to continue to put the residents of Gravesham first.”

“However, Saturday parking charges will be one way we are looking to make some of the money up.

“I think the report is very clear - the previous government administration failed to put in place a budget making financial sense.”

He added: “I’m looking to try and do everything we can do to prevent redundancies but we have got to be reasonable.”

Previous council leader Councillor Mike Snelling defended his Conservative council.

He said: “I am very disappointed it has become like this, when I first saw it I was staggered.

“The simple fact is that with a fast-moving and deteriorating national financial situation, Labour failed to utilise the detailed financial monitoring system I had instituted.

“Labour has not acted quickly enough to take the requisite management action and control of recruitment which is clearly needed if natural wastage targets are not being met.”

An extraordinary meeting of the council is taking place on October 18 to discuss a resolution.

The biggest losers for the council

The biggest losers for the council in the past five months include:

-£263,000 – Natural wastage – fewer staff have left the council than expected.

-£162,000 – Planning fees have not generated as much money as planned.

-£60,000 – Car parks have not generated as much cash as expected.

-£59,000 – The revaluation of council owned houses has cost Gravesham Council yet more money.

-£40,000 – Demand for trade waste services has not met targets.

-£27,000 – In previous years, Southern Water undercharged for bills at Denton Caravan Site. This now has to be paid.