CASH-STRAPPED councils in the region have been accused of hoarding assets after a report found they owned dozens of pubs, farms, shops and golf courses.

According to the TaxPayers' Alliance, local authorities in the North-East and North Yorkshire also own restaurants, theatres, car parks, leisure centres, a church and an aviary.

The report shows that councils are hoarding assets while at the same time increasing council tax bills and complaining that their Government funding is being cut, the campaign group claims.

In response, council bosses have questioned the accuracy of the report and stated that commercial property provides welcome income.

The TaxPayers' Alliance used freedom of information powers to quiz councils on their property portfolios.

The report found that authorities in the region own 21 pubs, 15 golf courses, 13 theatres and 27 restaurants, while Stockton Borough Council has a church and Gateshead has an aviary.

As well as hundreds of car parks, the study found that councils also own 13 hotels and almost 200 farms.

Nationally, nightclubs, a wet fish stall and a cheese factory were among the properties owned by authorities.

Jonathan Isaby, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "What possible business does a council have owning a nightclub?

"It looks deeply hypocritical for councils to plead poverty as an excuse for hiking council tax when they've got such a huge asset portfolio.

"Local authorities should be focussed on essential services. The time has come for a serious discussion on what councils should, and should not, be doing."

But Stuart Timmiss, head of planning and assets at Durham County Council, questioned the accuracy of the report, which claimed his authority owned nine pubs and two shopping centres.

He said: “We do not own 52 farms, we own 14, all of which are leased out to tenants.

“We do not own any pubs or shopping centres and the number of shops we own is far less than 105, although we do own some land that pubs and shops are built on.

“We also do not own four golf clubs, we own two, both of which are on long-term leases to community groups.

“In light of this, we would seriously question the accuracy of the information that has been published.”

Ten farms and two hotels are among the properties owned by Darlington Borough Council, the report found.

In response, a council spokeswoman said the council reviewed its asset holdings on a regular basis to ensure it only held assets that delivered a good financial return, were held for future development opportunities or were required for council service provision.

"The council owns some commercial property, all of which is subject to commercial leases returning an income to the council."