The leader of Nottingham City Council is meeting with his opposite numbers in Derby and Leicester to urge them to back a workplace parking tax.

Councillor Jon Collins said he hoped the three councils could work together towards a levy scheme instead of a proposed congestion charge.

If approved, the workplace parking tax could be introduced in 2010.

A report had suggested £2 charges for drivers entering some central areas in the cities during rush hour.

'Share learning'

Councillor Collins said: "The recent report on the potential of road pricing by the 6Cs (six councils) was very interesting, it was sensible to conduct that study, but ultimately it fails to convince us.

"We still believe that a levy will bring congestion benefits in a way that is more simple, fair and better targeted at commuters than Road User Charging.

"I'm hoping that Leicester City Council and Derby City Council will be interested in exploring a combined approach to implementing a joint levy scheme. We'll do everything we can to support them and share our learning."

More than 100 employers, residents and experts have already been invited to debate the charge in Nottingham.

The proposed levy would apply to businesses with 10 or more spaces and the initial annual charge would be £185 per space from the year 2010, rising to £350 by 2014.

The council has said money raised from the tax would help make £12m to develop Nottingham's tram system.

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