A COUNCILLOR has branded a committee's plans to hold a development workshop at a golf club as a waste of money.

Durham County Council's overview and scrutiny committee will hold the event at the Mount Oswald Golf Club, in Durham City, instead of at county hall.

A letter to members from chairman Joe Armstrong said the workshop would look at the committee's progress so far and its future programme and would include a buffet lunch.

But committee member and Independent councillor for Weardale, John Shuttleworth, said: "It's just a junket. Why go to a golf club when the committee holds its meetings here at County Hall.

"I don't think it is a good idea to blow public money like this when they could dine in the canteen. The facilities are perfectly adequate.''

A council spokesman said: "There is no room available. County Hall is used by a lot of community groups and outside bodies and the only suitable room is being used on the day.''

He said the role of the committee, which included co-opted members, was to scrutinise council decisions and policies so an independent setting was more suitable.

The spokesman said: "Maybe if he was to attend he could suggest suitable venues for such meetings.

"The council is more than happy to hear of any cheaper venue he may know of.''

But Councillor Shuttleworth replied that the committee was "nothing more than a talking shop and achieves nothing.

"It talks about plastic bags when there is social deprivation in villages and council tax rises,'' he said.

Last year he hit out at the council's cabinet dining at a four-star hotel to discuss "priorities''.

The bill was paid for out of leader Ken Manton's hospitality allowance.