BOURNEMOUTH council's plan to build a hotel on the site next to the BIC will be back before the cabinet next month.

The borough's senior councillors will be discussing "the best model to deliver the council’s objectives" according to a notice posted on the council website, which advises that said parts of the meeting will be partially held in secret.

"Part of the report will contain exempt information which, if disclosed, would prejudice the commercial interests of the council," the notice states.

Earlier this month the Echo reported that the council was seeking independent advice on the scheme after abandoning its initial plans in May in the midst of considerable opposition.

The council had announced its plan to borrow some £70 million from the Public Works Loan Board to fund construction on the site of the former Winterbourne Hotel.

However this led to councillors raising concern that the proposal was a too risky use of taxpayers money, and would compete with businesses in the town, damaging the tourism industry.

A legal challenge was launched by Peel Hotels and Bespoke Hotels in April which claimed the borough had broken the law by, allegedly, not properly tendering its scheme.

Property consultancy firm Savills, appointed to advise on council figures in November, said the borough "may not place reliance" on its report, "which appears contrary to statements made by the council in publicly available documents".

The council at the time claimed its return to the drawing board on the plan was not triggered by the judicial review bid, and leader Cllr John Beesley said a "huge amount of work" was done on the scheme, while Cllr Philip Broadhead, cabinet member for economic growth, dubbed the challenge "spurious".

Cllr Broadhead said alternative funding options for the scheme would be considered, and the procurement process would be reopened.

However at the time he said he saw no reason why the council would not bring forward a scheme on much same terms, including the borrowing.

The cabinet meeting takes place at the town hall on Tuesday, September 11, at 10.30am.

The agenda has yet to be published but is likely to reveal more details on what options the council is considering for the scheme.