COUNCILLORS have rowed about integrity and transparency, after elected members were asked to sign a confidentiality agreement before being given a report at the centre of a long-standing row.

City of York Council's audit and governance committee met on Wednesday night to discuss "observations and learnings" from a report into a stormy meeting of that same committee, held in February last year.

The report has already come up at audit committee more than once, but has been deferred when councillors were unhappy to be given only partial copies of the document.

On Wednesday night it emerged six out of nine councillors had signed confidentiality forms and received the full report but three - Conservatives Chris Steward and Sam Lisle and the Green party's Lars Kramm - had not.

In the meeting, Cllr Lisle asked why councillors were being asked to sign an additional agreement when they were already bound by a code of conduct. "I feel the way this has been handled questions the integrity of members," he said.

However, council solicitor Alison Hartley said the agreement was there to let the council "demonstrate it has done its utmost to keep information confidential", and not to question anyone's integrity.

The committee went into private session, with Cllrs Kramm, Lisle and Steward leaving the table when they were still unhappy about confidentiality requirements.

After the meeting council executive Mary Weastell and Labour councillor Dafydd Williams, who chaired the end of the meeting, released a joint statement saying they had a "positive private session" when they discussed "outstanding historical issues that have recently resurfaced".

"Members of the committee voted to debate the issues in private having regard to legal advice. All officers and members committed to work together on good governance standards and we are looking forward to building stronger more resilient relationships," they added.

However Cllr Lisle later said he was disappointed with the situation, which he felt showed a breakdown of trust between some members and some senior officers.

Writing on social media, Cllr Steward added: "Labour and Lib Dem councillors are evidently happy. I have higher standards and believe York residents expect better for the openness, transparency and effective running and accountability in their city."

A statement issued by Lib Dem councillors said they were frustrated their bid to delay the matter - giving councillors chance to read the report - had failed.

Their group wants to improve transparency and make sure council business is discussed openly, the statement said. "We will continue in our efforts to promote transparency and improve governance at the council."