The cost of a council taking over town centre parking enforcement from the police will be almost £2 million.

But contractors who will run the scheme will pay more than £800,000 of that while Brighton and Hove Council picks up the rest of the bill.

The figures are revealed in a report going before top councillors on Wednesday.

They also show that within five years the council hopes to make more than half a million pounds from the scheme, even after start-up costs.

The total income from on-street parking and enforcement will by then be approaching £5 million a year.

Liberal Democrat councillor Paul Elgood said: "This profit will be at the cost of local residents, visitors and businesses."

He said the council should have decided to run the scheme itself rather than hiring a contractor to do much of the work.

If the policy and resources committee agrees on Wednesday, the council will apply to the Government for permission to control parking on the streets.

Any profits from the scheme must by law be used to improve transport in Brighton and Hove.

The council is applying to fix the penalty charge at £40 but this will be halved for payments within 14 days.

Provided the Government agrees, the council will take over parking from the police in the summer of next year.

Cabinet environment councillor John Ballance said: "Local people have told us loudly and clearly that they want to see better enforcement of dangerous and illegal parking.

"The ability of the council to control parking and enforce it to a much higher degree than the police will help to reduce congestion and pollution."