FOUR Malvern town councillors and an officer will attend a conference in Torquay in November despite some members fears that it is an unnecessary expenditure.

Mayor Coun Whinray Coates, deputy mayor Coun Frances Victory and Coun Ralf Madden will attend the Association of Larger Local Councils conference in Torquay on the first weekend in November.

Coun Keith Phillips is also to be invited and a member of the town council's staff will make up the five, at a cost of £1,450.

Confirmation that the trip would go ahead followed a motion from Malvern Town Action Group member Coun Adrian Ward criticising the decision to attend and a subsequent series of failed amendments relating to costs.

Coun Ward said the money being spent was a considerable amount for a council of Malvern's size.

He asked who had decided who and how many would attend and wanted a run-down of the full costs.

Coun Pat Mewton said the council itself had decided on atten-ding, who was going was yet to be agreed and it would be a useful training and conference session.

Coun Graham Myatt put forward an amendment that just three councillors, with preference given to MTAG members, attend and the MTAG members then report back. Coun Ward in turn agreed to accept the amendment in the spirit it was given but it was lost by one vote.

Amendments on a spending limit and suggestions members should pay out of their own pockets were also lost.