Cash-strapped council chiefs raked in £21,000 last year from drivers who overpaid at Carlisle car parks because they didn’t have the right change.

Deputy leader Gareth Ellis revealed that the authority saw an income growth of £120,000 on car parking across the district.

And of that, the £21,000 windfall was gleaned solely from people who paid more at ticket machines because they didn’t have the correct cash.

The figures emerged as councillors discussed the new administration’s ‘Free After Three’ initiative at a special meeting of the Economic Growth Scrutiny Panel.

Coun Ellis said: “This is income that the council itself has pocketed so there is growth in there and I don’t think it is unreasonable to share some of those proceeds with the citizens.”

But Coun Les Tickner, who was among those who called the scheme in, described the plans as “reckless and ill thought-out”.

He also stressed that they had not been factored into the budget agreed before the local elections in May.

But Coun Tickner said: “There are still £837,000 of savings to find as result of the ongoing austerity. I think this is a case of spending money we don’t have which to me is reckless.

“It’s clear to me in the discussions I’ve heard that this is a decision made without a business case, a decision made before the results of any consultation rather than the other way around.”

But responding to his concerns, coun Ellis described the figures involved as “quite small” and said the scheme would be monitored.

He added: “Each spot [carparking place] will cost between 3.7 pence per day and 8 pence a day. That’s based on £13,800 and the top end figure of £29,000.”

Coun Ellis stressed that the administration was aware of the possible behavioural change which could see people parking at 3pm instead of 2pm, but said this had been factored into the calculations.

The pilot scheme would be rolled out on a trial basis at Caldew Riverside, Castle and Viaduct in a bid to help boost trade in the city centre.

But the proposals sparked concerns from some councillors over how consultation will be carried out and how the trial’s success will be measured.

Other concerns included the environmental impact, such as the effect on the “climate emergency” and clean air initiatives.

The temporary change will require formal consultation and legal notices to be issued with the views of business chiefs set to be considered on July 22.

Under the plans, the trail would be rolled out on August 1 this year and run for eight months to the end of March 2020.

The scheme would be monitored by officers with recommendations and options developed as the trial is underway.