FOREST of Dean district councillors have agreed to scrap their 'obscene banquets' before meetings.

Coun Andrew Gardiner (Ind, Lydbrook & Ruardean) said he thought it was unfair that while pushing an austerity drive and putting people on the dole that councillors were 'filling their faces with an obscene banquet of sandwiches'.

Some members disputed their plates of sandwiches with fruit garnishes, given to councillors but not council officers and workers, constituted a banquet and some said they didn't have time to grab snacks between work and meetings, but they agreed they should pay for their own sandwiches from now on. They will be eligible to claim their cost back on subsistence expenses.

They will still get free tea and coffee, and possibly biscuits, and special visitors will be given free refreshments, it was decided.

Two councillors voted against Coun Gardiner's motion, and four abstained.

Vice-chairman Dr Richard Long (Con, Bromsberrow & Dymock) described the decision as masochistic. He added: "My allowances and mileage have already been reduced, and if we're going to withdraw our sandwiches there'll be nothing much left. Soon councillors will be required to pay themselves to be councillors. We should get something back for what we do."