TALKS are continuing to try and keep on-street parking in Christchurch under the control of the borough council.

At a meeting of Dorset County Council’s cabinet yesterday, councillors issued a 12-month notice to terminate the on-street parking agency contracts.

However, members agreed that no definitive action would be taken until talks between the county and borough council were completed and recommendations for the delivery of future services were agreed by the county cabinet.

The move is an attempt to make around £130,000-worth of savings across Christ-church and Weymouth and Portland councils’ parking services.

Under the terms of the agreement with the parking agencies the councils are required to give 12 months notice.

Director for Environment Miles Butler said that talks with the borough councils about how to make efficiency savings were on-going.

He said: “What has come to our attention is if we come to an agreement we need to serve notice by the end of March.”

He added that it would be possible to serve notice and continue discussions with the borough councils about how to make the £130,000 savings.

And chairman of the cabinet Angus Campbell said: “It’s the result that really counts. We don’t mind who does it as long as we get the saving.”

In the report to cabinet, details of future enforcement using a camera car in Christ-church were given.

It stated that this could then be used as background for the implementation of a county-wide camera car project to generate additional income.

Lindsay Cass, head of environmental services at Christ-church and East Dorset Partnership, said: “Christ-church Borough Council is keen to retain control of parking within the town as it is important that decisions on local parking issues are dealt with by local members.

“However, we understand that the county council must make savings so we are working with the county council to find ways of keeping on-street parking under our control.”