The leader of the main opposition Labour Group on City of York Council has said meetings concerning the new council HQ should go ahead in public, rather than in private. His comments come in response to an invitation to a meeting of the ‘Accommodation Member Steering Group', a group which involved representation from each of the three main political parties.

But Coun. David Scott says the group lacks legitimacy if it is to meet in private, following the problems of the first planned project. He said:

"I've no problems in general with this group meeting in an advisory capacity but it has no authority to take decisions - that is the role of the council's Executive. But it appears decisions will be made around which direction this project will take before the Executive stage, and that is something I am uncomfortable with. I therefore see no reason to attend these meetings until this situation changes".

The Steering Group is due to meet this Wednesday to discuss progress with the project, but Coun. Scott thinks the closed doors meetings will only make a repeat of the first planned project's failures more likely.

"We need to have matters around the project discussed in an open and transparent way" he added.