A leading councillor is asking city council bosses to cut the cost of refreshments provided at meetings.

The Argus revealed earlier this month that high charges were being made by contractors for some items supplied to Brighton and Hove City Council during its meetings - including £14 for a plate of biscuits.

Coun Brian Oxley, leader of the Conservative opposition in Brighton and Hove, is asking for action to cut the costs.

He said: "In the wake of other recent adverse publicity, I feel this deals another blow to the public image of the council.

"The episode reflects extremely badly on the council and gives the impression of wilful misuse of public money, something which we as a group would never condone."

He has asked if support staff can go out to a supermarket to buy refreshment items at a fraction of the contract price.

When the charges, which form part of the authority's eight-year-old contract with Ecovert, were revealed, councillors described them as a scandal and demanded the contract was reviewed.

The company also charges the authority £2.80 for each bottle of water members open at committee meetings, while a litre of orange juice costs £3.50.