Medway motorists were given unexpected surprise presents by the council when the budget was set last night.

Parking increases have been scrapped.

Instead, car parking prices will stay unchanged for the next three years.

The children's concessionary travel pass is being extended to cover 18-year-olds.

And passes for companions accompanying disabled bus users will be slashed from £75 to £30

They were among several surprises from Medway's Conservative's Chancellor, Cllr Alan Jarrett, when he revealed they were cutting the council tax increase from a recommended 4.995 per cent to one of 4.882 per cent. The average council tax for a Band D property will now go up just under £1 a week.

Cllr Jarrett revealed there would be a new Medway cultural festival to celebrate Englishness, and extra spending on disabled facilities, allotments, library books and the local business community.

He said they had done all they could to maintain and improve the quality of life for local residents.

They rejected opposition spending proposals, but promised to look at several ideas from the Liberal Democrats to improve pedestrian safety, crossing the Four Elms roundabout, free parking at Christmas and restoring the seawall at the Strand in Gillingham.