A special council meeting will be held in the autumn to consider a ten-year planning blueprint for the future of Brighton and Hove.

But the three-hour debate on the controversial Local Plan will be 'deliberative' and no decisions will be taken.

Some councillors are furious that the full council will not be debating the plan before it goes out to the public.

The draft plan, likely to include such political hot potatoes as a park-and-ride site north of the bypass and Albion's proposed stadium at Falmer, will go before the policy and resources committee on August 2.

It will be placed on deposit for six weeks from September, but the council meeting will not take place until October.

Council chief executive Glynn Jones said each party group would be asked to put forward four key issues in the plan they would like debated.

He added: "The debate will provide the opportunity for councillors to express their views and the views of their constituents."

Mr Jones said the council debate would form part of the consultation process involving councillors and the public.

But some councillors have branded the situation 'undemocratic' and a move designed to keep objectors quiet.

Councillors have been upset all the decisions so far have been made by executive councillors acting independently and say something of this magnitude needs to be discussed and agreed by all councillors.

Green councillor Rik Child said: "The first draft will go to the policy and resources committee. This is quite undemocratic and shocking.

"The council meeting will be a talking shop simply to keep us quiet."

Labour councillor Joyce Edmond-Smith said it was a complete farce and added: "They may be worried about losing the debate on park-and-ride."

She is asking for the normal council meeting on September 21 to discuss the Local Plan before it is placed on deposit.

Environment cabinet councillor John Ballance said it had always been proposed to deal with the Local Plan at the next policy and resources meeting.