A SECRET report about the running of a regeneration agency sparked a privacy debate at a meeting in the Municipal Buildings.

A meeting of the local authority's environment and regeneration committee was set to consider a report on a review of Riverside Inverclyde.

But the decision to keep the agenda item private prompted a senior councillor to ask why discussion on a publicly funded regeneration agency was being held behind closed doors, without press or members of the public present.

At the beginning of the meeting SNP group leader Councillor Chris McEleny queried why the report, in its entirety, was being treated as exempt under local government legislation when it related to an important matter of public interest.

But council official Scott Allan insisted the report could not be discussed openly.

He replied: “There are a number of aspects to be discussed in the private session.

"My view, based on advice I have been given, is that it should be treated as exempt.”

Mr McEleny stated that he felt at least some of the document could have been discussed publicly.

But Mr Allan told him: “It could lead to the identification of employees and staffing matters make it exempt.

"The council are required to keep it private.”

Council leader Stephen McCabe agreed that the public should be kept informed as possible, and suggested another option.

He said: “This is a potentially significant decision.

“I suggest a further report, with the majority being held in the public session.

"I also think that any final decision should be recorded publicly.”

It was agreed that council officers would look at making parts of the report available to be discussed in public sessions.

Commenting after the meeting, Councillor McCabe said: “Once the outcome of the meeting has been discussed with Riverside Inverclyde there will be a further report back to the committee.

“I would envisage that some or all of that report will be in the public domain.”

Speaking after the meeting Cllr Chris McEleny said: "When we are being asked to make key decisions about high profile organisations like Riverside Inverclyde, we should be endeavouring to do this transparently and have the arguments for or against the benefits the company provides Inverclyde made in public.

"Many key decisions get made in private and people only find out about them when the impact hits them.

"We should be trying to have as much debate as possible in public, and I think this is something most people would agree with."