The press was excluded from a council meeting in Lincolnshire that was convened to discuss how to boost communications with… the press.

The decision to make discussions at North East Lincolnshire Council private was attacked by opposition committee members, who said the move was bizarre and could lead to accusations of "spin doctoring".

Scrutiny Commission committee members were told the matters had to be discussed behind closed doors because they involved staffing matters, including the proposed deletion of an existing post.

The Grimsby Telegraph, which was among the press thrown out when the meeting went into private session, said: "The council is keen to polish up its image, which was tarnished before Christmas by an Audit Commission report which deemed it 'poor'.

"The report describing how this was to be achieved was also withheld."

Do you have a story about the regional press? Ring 0116 227 3122/3121, or
e-mail pastill@nep.co.uk