Measures to limit parking for workers at Norfolk County Council have moved closer - but opposition Conservatives called for extra parking spaces to be built instead.

Previous proposals to bring in blanket parking charges at County Hall were abandoned, but a revised package of measures was drawn up by a working group of seven councillors.

Council officers said action needed to be taken as the car park is at capacity and, with staff moving to County Hall from closing offices elsewhere in the county, that pressure will increase.

Under the freshly proposed package, existing workers living within a mile of the council's Martineau Lane headquarters, would no longer get parking permits and new workers living within three miles would not get them.

Those who do get parking permits would have a second non-parking day, added to the one day a week now when they are not permitted to park.

Workers who wish to park on the non-parking day would have to pay £5 a day.

The package also included a recommendation to explore securing planning permission to provide more spaces.

But Cliff Jordan, leader of the Conservative group, said at a meeting today the solution was to build more parking spaces and work to encourage more walking, cycling, car sharing and use of public transport.

He said: 'Increasing the capacity is what we need to do.'

But Labour's Mick Castle criticised that suggestion as 'outrageous', given it effectively rubbished what the member working group had proposed.

Jonathan Dunning, from Unison, said the proposals were a 'significant improvement' on before, but that consultation with staff was crucial.

The policy and resources committee voted on whether to put the recommendations - and the staff consultation results - to full council.

With the Conservatives voting against it, the vote was tied at eight for and eight against.

Council leader George Nobbs used his casting vote to agree that the matter be put to full council. If they are agreed the changes would be introduced next April.