CHRISTCHURCH council are set to heavily backtrack on the controversial TV beach huts competition - but are not likely to abandon the agreement completely.

A special council meeting will take place next Tuesday to discuss the next move for the under-fire authority - with the public and press to be excluded from some of the discussion.

As previously revealed by the Daily Echo, the changes to the contract with Plum Pictures, who produce George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces, include making the huts for daytime use only, not allowing internal toilets or showers, reducing the size and changing the designers’ prize to £1,000.

The recommendation to the extraordinary full council meeting comes as the scrutiny committee starts an investigation into the decision-making surrounding the agreement.

In the report to the meeting, it said that if the council did withdraw from the agreement they would be in breach of contract, and Plum Pictures could take legal action.

It states: “Given the potential financial exposure for terminating the agreement and the resultant financial loss of taxpayers’ money for no gain, members should recognise this is not an option that should be considered.

“Any decision that actively chose to incur a loss of public money for no outcome would come under scrutiny as part of the external audit of the council’s accounts.”

It says the council would also suffer reputational risk, the decision would impact on staff morale and lead to loss of income, which would impact on council tax and revenue budgets.

It adds: “It would set a precedent that the council is susceptible to public pressure, every time a potentially controversial issue is agreed by council they would be subjected to campaigns similar to that experienced in this case, making rational decision-making difficult.”

It also cites political damage as a potential factor, stating: “Councillors made the original decision to go ahead and would be criticised for the financial implications of withdrawal.”

In amending the agreement, the council stand to lose £20,000 a year, something they say ‘equates to £1 per Band D property.’

If they were to withdraw, this could cost tax payers in a Band D property £3.98, the report says.

The paper also says the council, which held no public consultation on the project, admitted the scheme “has already resulted in significant reputational damage for the council and a lack of trust in the community”.

No consultation will be held on the implications of next week’s report, “because of the need for urgency”, but the authority recognises the lack of public engagement has held-up the project to date.

If the competition is re-run for smaller day huts, filming could take place in spring 2017.