THE chief executive of a council - under fire for sending its management team for £4,000 worth of adventure training at taxpayers' expense - has vigorously defended the decision.

The issue prompted a number of questions from the public at a meeting of Richmondshire District Council on Tuesday night, including the overall cost of the exercise which saw the 11-strong team stay two nights at The Morritt Arms, at Greta Bridge, near Barnard Castle.

However, in a spirited speech in front of the full council, Harry Tabiner insisted the course had been excellent value for money and stood by his decision to arrange it.

Mr Tabiner said the two days with Adrenalin UK at Aske Hall, near Richmond, represented just one of a number of training projects in the pipeline, all of which will be paid for from a training budget approved at the beginning of the financial year.

"Any organisation which stops developing its staff is one which starts to fail," he said.

"The sort of courses arranged by Adrenalin are now the norm and not the exception for companies across the country.

"There is no difference in how useful they are to the public or the private sector so I hope the idea that the public sector must somehow aim for lower standards is something this council will reject."

Mr Tabiner confirmed four similar courses had been arranged by the council at different locations since 1996 and he intended to arrange more in future.

"Our staff are committed, flexible and will go out of their way to solve problems," said Mr Tabiner. "Do you think that happens by chance? No. It happens because we have a well coordinated, motivated management team."

The authority's Liberal Democrat group has indicated its members are considering calling a special meeting of the full council to debate the matter further.