NEW charges could be implemented by a Hampshire council as the pandemic leaves it £3.6m out of pocket.

Fareham Borough Council will hold an emergency meeting tonight.

Councillors announced this morning that the authority has found itself with a £3.66m shortfall in funding, after already agreeing a budget for this financial year earlier in 2020.

And despite government grants expected to cover two-thirds of this amount, it would still leave the council with a £1.14m gap.

A council tax rise has so far been dismissed.

But, as reported, charges in coastal car parks are one of the options being considered to cover the funding gap.

Leader Cllr Sean Woodward said: "Most residents are surprised that Fareham Borough Council delivers all of our services for a cost of just £3 per week for the average home, almost the lowest in the country.

"However, Covid-19 has had a significant impact on every aspect of life and society in our Borough and it is well reported how this has led to an immense impact on the UK economy.

"We must take action now and that is why we have got an emergency mid-year budget coming before us and why we are having to look at alternative ways of bridging the funding gap for the future.

"Our services are vital to our residents and, for many, are a lifeline. But in order to safeguard those services from cuts we must find revenue from other sources - either increasing the council tax for everyone in the Borough or introducing a modest charge for demand-led services.

The meeting will take place at 5.30pm this afternoon.