COUNCIL bosses under fire for considering the installation of a £25,000 sound system in their council chamber have scrapped the plans.
The system, which would have enabled councillors to vote electronically and control the volume of each microphone, was one of two possible solutions to an acoustics problem at Chester-le-Street District Council, County Durham.
An alternative system using small microphones suspended from the ceiling would have cost a more modest £5,000.
The more expensive option was criticised by impoverished community groups as a waste of tax-payers' money.
Now councillors have agreed to shelve the plans for the foreseeable future.
A spokeswoman said: "The plans were considered to be too expensive and not a priority."
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