An MP has criticised Brighton and Hove City Council's plans to move its powerbase.

Ivor Caplin believes council bosses should rethink their plans to pull out of the council's main administrative offices in Hove and transfer to Brighton Town Hall in the city centre.

The MP for Hove said the 100-year-old building was not a suitable place from which to run a modern city.

He spoke out after the council's policy committee voted to move chief executive David Panter and senior officers from their modern offices at King's House in Grand Avenue, Hove.

Brighton Town Hall in Bartholomews would be renamed City Hall.

New offices would be provided and it would become home to the management team and councillor services.

Most administrative staff and departments, including social services, would remain at King's House.

Mr Caplin said he realised Brighton Town Hall was an important historical and architectural asset which needed to be restored and preserved.

But he questioned whether the Victorian building could be turned into a modern base for the council.

Mr Caplin said: "Brighton Town Hall is a wonderful old building and an excellent setting for some of the more ceremonial parts of the council's work.

"However, it is definitely not a suitable place to run a modern city when we already have a perfectly acceptable building at King's House.

"The council needs to look again at the serious practical problems of moving the administration, leadership and management teams of a 21st Century city into a building designed more than 100 years ago."

Brighton Town Hall already houses the main council chamber, committee rooms, the register office and the mayor's parlour.

Council leader Ken Bodfish said: "I respect Ivor Caplin's concerns for his constituents.

"However, my concern is for the taxpayers of the city as a whole.

"These proposals are part of our efforts to become a leaner and more efficient council.

"If that requires reorganisation of office accommodation, I am certain this will be understood by the taxpayers."

Since Brighton and Hove merged in 1997, there have been two main town halls and a third in Portslade.

The main administrative centre of the city is at King's House in Grand Avenue, Hove, near the statue of Queen Victoria.

Under the new moves, City Hall will house leadership, councillor services, the chief executive and the management team.