Private meeting eases pressure

Richmondshire District Council sent 11 top executives on a two-day adventure training course with Adrenalin UK at Aske Hall, near Richmond, staying two nights at the Morritt Arms Hotel, at Greta Bridge.

Despite some fierce criticism from taxpayers since, senior management has maintained a vigorous defence of the exercise, insisting similar ones are an accepted training tool among leading edge firms across the UK.

However, not every member of the authority has been supportive, with some executives saying they felt "badly let down" as a result.

Thursday's informal meeting was called to give officers and councillors an opportunity to discuss the issue - as well as a number of other unspecified matters - in private.

Chief executive Harry Tabiner declined to comment afterwards, although council leader John Blackie said a full and frank exchange of views on a number of issues had proved worthwhile.

"It was useful to have that opportunity," he said. "When you are running a £10m operation in the interests of the public, I think it is only right that the management should have the opportunity to sit back, take stock and discuss things in a relaxed and informal manner.

"I think I can say that, if anything came from the meeting, it was a commitment to have more of these informal gatherings."

But Catterick councillor Tony Pelton, who is among those critical of course, condemned Thursday's gathering as "unconstitutional".

He did not attend as a result but said he hoped something positive would come from the debate.

"If it means we end up with a proper mechanism, which improves communication between councillors and officers at all levels then it could be a good thing," he said.

"However, if there are more meetings, then there should be a proper agenda and a proper records kept, even if some sensitive issues have to be dealt with out of the public eye."