THE controversy surrounding a council executive team's adventure training trip is to be debated when the authority meets next week.

A number of councillors have signed a motion requesting further discussion of the two-day visit to Adrenaline UK, at Aske Hall, by 11 senior Richmondshire District Council staff last month.

The party also stayed two nights at the Morritt Arms Hotel at Greta Bridge, near Barnard Castle, pushing the cost of the package up to an estimated £7,700.

Chief executive Harry Tabiner, who was one of the senior executives on the training exercise, has steadfastly defended his decision to book the event. He told the council last month that he saw no reason why the council's staff should not benefit from courses which took them outside their usual daily routine.

A number of councillors have put their names to a motion urging the council to confirm the cost of the Aske Hall exercise on Wednesday.

It is also suggested that, in future, any training course likely to cost more than £1,000 is first ratified by councillors, as well as training likely to cost more than £500 per individual.

It is also suggested that Richmondshire District Council's new resources scrutiny committee considers the issues raised by the recent controversy and thrashes out new recommendations on future policies.