The decision by Oxfordshire County Council to charge Oxford residents to park outside their homes is to be scrutinised by a key council committee.

A special meeting of the council's environment and economy scrutiny committee is being convened, following a request from Labour and Liberal Democrat councillors.

The committee has the power to refer the decision back to the Conservative-run cabinet, and no action can be taken to implement the fees until the committee has met.

Barton and Churchill councillor Liz Brighouse, leader of the Labour group, said the cabinet had not "adequately considered the issues raised by residents or the overwhelming rejection of charges in the consultation".

She added that important issues affecting the needs of carers and small businesses had been skirted over.

Last week, it emerged that a court challenge could be mounted by Oxford City Council, on the basis that County Hall's consultation on parking permits was flawed.

The city council has already taken advice from lawyers, with the legal options expected to be put to a full meeting of the council next Monday, October 2.

The Conservative-controlled county council cabinet voted unanimously last Tuesday to charge residents in Oxford £40 a year for parking permits.

The nine councillors present, who all represent areas outside Oxford, decided to go ahead with the proposals even though a city-wide consultation showed two thirds of respondents opposed the plan.

Richard Dix, the county council's head of transport, said arrangements for introducing the scheme were being finalised.

Mr Dix said the expected £480,000 income would be spent only on enforcement or, if there was a surplus, on transport schemes in Oxford.

The county council claims the charges compare well with other cities, such as York where permits cost £86, and Bath, where they are £55.