A council's head of communications has been criticised for pre-empting a council decision - while attacking the local press for doing the same thing.

Simon Taylor, of East Riding Council, admitted he took a "calculated risk" in assuming the council's executive would be renamed as the cabinet at a key meeting.

A newsletter he edits, the East Riding News, included a photograph depicting "members of the cabinet (formerly known as the executive)", before the meeting had taken place.

Campaigners have questioned why the outcome was published before councillors gave final approval to the shake-up, claiming the elected members were simply being used as "lobby fodder".

Yet in the same edition of the council newsletter, the head of communications and public relations Mr Taylor said: "The council recognises the importance of the local media in keeping residents in touch with what's happening on a real time basis.

"A major source of frustration for councillors, however, is when journalists assume that they are going to take a specific course of action before a meeting has taken place."

Rick Sumner, chairman of the East Yorkshire Eye public watchdog, said: "It seems typical of the council and shows that it is being run behind the scenes."