MALVERN Town Council was set to discuss next year's budget and precept behind closed doors at a meeting last night.

Acting town clerk Rosemary Lansdowne yesterday (Thursday) confirmed that members were very likely to approve the exclusion of press and public prior to their discussion of the budget and financial plan for 2002/2003.

The plan has only been discussed by a budget working party so far and Ms Lansdowne said councillors wanted the chance to look at it as a full council before announcing it publicly.

The item was to be considered for exclusion under the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act of 1960 on the grounds that it would not be in the public interest and that business was of a confidential nature.

Ms Lansdowne said that the move - which needed councillors' approval - was not a "cloak and dagger" one.

"Each member has had a budget pack and if they approve what is in it they will invite you (the press) back in and you can then speak to the chairman and vice-chairman about it," she said.

Malvern Town Action Group member Freda Johnson said such an exclusion would be "appalling".

"In situations when we're not discussing staff salaries or anything that is not confidential then the press and public should be present," she said.

"Council taxpayers are entitled to know what their councillors are doing in terms of the council budget and precept."

However, chairman of the budget working party Ralph Madden, who is also an MTAG member, said: "I'm advised that it would be better to conduct the discussions in private and I'm very happy to go along with whatever is agreed."