LIBERAL Democrats on North Yorkshire County Council have failed in their bid to have plans for a new monthly council newspaper reconsidered.

Senior councillors on the executive of the Conservative-controlled authority agreed earlier this month that the North Yorkshire Reporter magazine, issued twice yearly to 300,000 households, should be replaced from September by a more regular countywide newspaper.

The decision was called in by the Lib Dems, who said it was a potential propaganda sheet. They claimed a number of issues had not been resolved and the composition of the editorial board was not politically balanced.

But the communications scrutiny committee has decided there are not sufficient grounds for a rethink.

The executive approved the new tabloid publication after considering a business case, which said such a practice had already been adopted by a number of other authorities.

The council said it was not the intention to use the publication, so far untitled, to express political views.