A RESIDENTS' discount card may be introduced to offer tax payers cheaper services.

Members of Weymouth and Portland Borough Council last night suggested the authority implement a council tax payer credit scheme where residents are able to choose which services they receive a discount on.

Different discount rates are currently imposed on council services including the swimming pool, allotments and deck chairs.

But members of the borough's community, regeneration and culture committee feel the system should be overhauled with all council tax payers asked to apply for which council service they would like their discount on.

Councillors suggested introducing a courtesy discount scheme which would offer everyone an umbrella scheme including the current cheaper services now available to residents over 60.

Members said more details of any such scheme would need to be thrashed out at a later date but suggested one discount available could be cheaper tickets for residents at the Weymouth Pavilion.

Coun David Harris said the borough's discount scheme should change into a card system because not all pensioners needed to take advantage of the benefits.

"We should recognise that some pensioners in Weymouth and Portland are very wealthy while others, perhaps, are not so. Rather than set individual discounts for each area we should maybe offer, say, a 20 per cent discount card for services and then it can be up to residents where they use it," he said.

Coun Harris added that the take up of discounts might be boosted if residents can pick and choose where they want a reduction to apply.

Coun Jacqueline Redfern agreed and suggested any new scheme should be known as a 'courtesy discount'.

"A discount scheme should acknowledge people have paid tax in this area and this would give them something back. A new scheme would mean the less wealthy would apply for the discounts in areas that actually wanted."

Members also agreed no decision on future fees for sports facilities in the borough should be made until a major recreational review by the authority is finished later this year.