PLANS to restrict members of a rural town council from talking to the Press may be relaxed.

However, members of Barnard Castle Town Council could still be forbidden from commenting on authority decisions.

The council's modernisation committee has drafted a media protocol to set out members' relationship with the media.

The initial draft, written by committee chairman Councillor Pam Grunwell, proposed that only the clerk and certain councillors would act as spokesmen and individuals should not comment on resolutions by the council.

Coun Grunwell said: "The aim of the protocol is to ensure the integrity of the council and its policies and decisions.

"Individual councillors contribute a variety of views and opinions at meetings, after which a decision and resolution is proposed and voted upon.

"That resolution is the whole council's resolution. It's incumbent that individuals accept this position, to do otherwise is to undermine the authority of the council and hence the proposal."

Another function of the protocol was to prevent outspoken councillors being continually quoted and also individual views being misinterpreted as those of the council.

However, Councillor Newton Wood objected to the proposal which said councillors should refer any questions to the clerk.

He said: "There's a human rights issue and freedom of speech issue, where you can say what you wish without any influence by any political group. We have views that represent the public and as a representative of the public I've a right to speak.

"I can't think of any case where a councillor has spoken and it's been construed as the views of the town council rather than a comment by a councillor."

Councillor Eric Fell urged changes to let councillors speak on subjects before a decision is taken by the council, and his idea will now go to the full council for ratification.