A panel investigating a council housing scandal is to reconvene.

A Brighton and Hove City Council scrutiny committee is investigating why a debate on the future of 16,000 council homes was pulled from the agenda of a meeting in January.

Members will hear on Friday from Kevin Allen, the former housing management sub-committee chairman who resigned with housing chairman Jack Hazlegrove in disgust following the decision.

Councillors had been expected to keep ownership of housing stock rather than transfer it to a housing association or private company, options the Government prefers.

Just before the meeting, a letter arrived from Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott's office which council leader Ken Bodfish said contained "fresh information", meaning the vote had to be postponed.

It was widely believed the item was removed from the agenda to placate the Government and a vote of no confidence in Coun Bodfish was passed.

Coun Allen accused Coun Bodfish of failing his party and demanded that he resign.