THE decision by Oxfordshire County Council to charge Oxford residents for parking outside their own 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 nine Labour councillors and one Liberal Democrat councillor.

The committee has the power to refer the decision back to the cabinet, and no action can be taken on the decision until the committee has met.

Liz Brighouse, leader of the council's Labour group, who is one of the county councillors requesting the move, 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 concerning the needs of carers and small businesses had been skirted over.

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

The city has already taken advice from counsel, with the legal options expected to be put to a full meeting of the city council on 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, who all represent areas outside the city 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 in Oxford.

In zones where more than two permits per household can be held, the charge will be £80 a year for a third permit and £120 a year for further permits.

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