RISES in fees and charges may be used to plug a £1million council budget shortfall in Weymouth and Portland, borough councillors have warned.

Councillors have been told to 'carefully consider' next year's contribution of income, including harbour mooring, car parking and beach facilities, which currently stands at £8.1 million a year.

The alert comes after council finance spokesman Howard Legg revealed any rise in its share of next year's council tax bill would be limited to five per cent and that residents surveyed in the borough did not want to see service cuts in 2005.

Coun Legg said: "We predicted last year that we would be facing pressures on the budget of up to £1million for this year.

"Our predictions look fairly accurate and there is no doubt we will have some difficult decisions to take.

"We are already committed to keeping any increase in Weymouth and Portland's share of the council tax to well under £10 for the typical household."

The move comes after more than 1,000 households responded to a consultation exercise over the summer.

"The results of the survey will help shape the budget," said Mr Legg.

Coun Legg promised a 'frank and open' debate between members as they decide what to do.

The borough council's economy and regeneration committee will be the latest scrutiny committee to debate increased charges at a meeting on October 26.

Its members have been told in a report that scope for significant council tax rises is 'extremely limited'.

The report added: "There is a need to carefully consider the contribution fees and charges make to the council's financial strategy."

Compared to the £8.1 million brought in from fees and charges, council tax brings in £4.7 million for Weymouth and Portland Borough Council, with £4.3 million in central government grant.

More than £100,000 of extra income next year is currently planned through rises in mooring charges for residents and visiting yachts.

This is made up of a drop in the residents' discount for berths in the council's inner harbour from 80 per cent to 85 per cent of non-resident charges, which will bring in an extra £89,000, and scrapping an early payment discount of five per cent resulting in an extra £9,000.

Visiting yachts will be asked to pay an extra 10 pence per metre in the summer, taking the charge to £1.90 per metre.

Residents have already been warned about rises in parking charges across the borough.

Moves to scrap winter discounts and introduce a blanket charge for the whole year could help generate more than £200,000 in income.

Rises in deck chair hire and rides on the Esplanade's land train are also proposed.

These would bring in an extra £32,000 from April 1 next year.

The borough's share of the council tax rose by 6.91 per cent this year to £213.74 for a band D household.

Economy and Regener-ation committee chairman Peter Farrell said his members had a difficult job to reduce the charges to the rate payer while being fair to everyone paying fees and charges.

Coun Farrell said: "We are looking for efficiency savings and I intend to scrutinise every aspect of the harbour finances."

Former mayor Doug Hollings said he felt the people of the borough had been let down by the Government.

He added: "The amount of money provided to the borough council does not cover the rate of inflation.

"Together with efficiency savings that we are making, it means our job is going to be very difficult."