A COUNCIL has agreed to consider recording its meetings after a row over a mayor using the word “spongers” during a debate tackling poverty.

Bishop Auckland Mayor, Councillor David Fleming, apologised for using the “derogatory” term during a meeting of the council’s finance committee on January 8.

Councillors were discussing the authority’s budget and the allocation of money towards investing in a fund aimed at alleviating child poverty, such as a winter clothing fund.

Durham County Councillor and town councillor Tanya Tucker accused the mayor of using the word to describe the people of her Woodhouse Close ward and called for him to resign in an email sent to councillors.

However, at a meeting of the full council on Tuesday night, Cllr Tucker herself declared she was resigning for reasons unrelated to the row.

During the public participation part of the meeting, resident and Conservative activist, Colin Raine, called for an investigation into the mayor’s comments.

He said: “Someone is not telling the truth. Should the next step not be an investigation into this?”

Cllr Fleming said he had apologised for using the word but believed it had been “taken out of context” and he was referring to the term in “general” rather than to a specific group of people.

Mr Raine said: “I don’t understand how the word sponger could be used to describe anyone in general.”

Cllr Fleming replied: “You accept my variation or you don’t. I think I have answered your question.”

Jean Clarke, of the Woodhouse Church and Community Centre food bank – which is one of the mayor’s chosen charities - attended with Reverend Sara Gill and read out a statement in support of the mayor.

Addressing the mayor she said: “A lot of this hinges on the context of what was said so for future meetings, should you not record the meetings?

“It would be quite useful to have a digital recording of the meetings so you have got evidence.”

Cllr Fleming said he thought it was a “very good idea” and that the council would look into it as an option.