Members of outside organisations will not be allowed to be on Cromer Town Council committees, amid fears it would set a 'dangerous precedent'.

At Monday's meeting, it was proposed that people from groups like Cromer Preservation Society and the Georgian Society could join sub-committees as non-voting members to offer advice and expertise.

The council took advice from North Norfolk District Council legal manager Roger Howe, who said the move was acceptable, so long as ex-officio members did not have a vote.

But the idea was soundly defeated as councillors made their views known.

Jim Bond said: 'Cromer Preservation Society is a special interest group. They are not advising, they are putting their viewpoint forward.

'They are outside the council and are entitled - like any member of the public - to put their views. To bring them in gives them a quasi-official status. I think it's a dangerous precedent.

'I don't see why these groups are any more special than anyone else.'

Keith Johnson said: 'If these people were that interested in the workings of the council they would put themselves up for election and get on the council that way.'