THE row over plans to launch a council newspaper in Wirral continues as a special meeting of all 66 members is called.

The extraordinary meeting has been set up to decide whether a scrutiny committee was "hoodwinked" by the ruling Labour group over a letter from a Government minister warning them not to break publicity rules.

Local Government minister Marcus Jones had sent the letter to council leader Phil Davies demanding reassurances from the authority that it will not press ahead with the proposed monthly newspaper.

Mr Jones reminded the council the "publicity code" for all local authorities limits the frequency of such publications to just four per year.

The letter was referred to at the scrutiny committee - but its contents were not revealed.

Whether that document should have been shown to opposition councillors will be one of the main points of argument when the extraordinary meeting convenes on October 17.

Tory group leader Jeff Green said: "By concealing the existence of this letter from the committee the cabinet attempted to hoodwink the council and the taxpayers of Wirral into thinking all was going well with this vanity project.

“At a time when Labour councillors and their leader Jeremy Corbyn never stop banging on about austerity, we have a project that is not only costing £270,000 a year but is also opening the council up to an expensive legal battle with the Government.”

A council spokesman said: “Cabinet was already well aware of the guidance contained in the publicity code but agreed that, such was the need for the council to communicate more effectively with residents, a departure from the code in relation to the frequency of this publication was justified.

“The DCLG letter was referred to at the [scrutiny] meeting and the council has since written back to inform them of our position and invite further discussion."

The council intends to publish its 30-page newspaper - which it is believed will be called "Wirral Today" - twelve times a year delievering it free through 150,000 letterboxes with 15,000 copies available for collection at libraries and other public buildings.

The publication will be supported by its own website and social media.