The chief executive of Brighton and Hove City Council was today meeting Government officials to find out more about a U-turn on plans to use a hotel as a hostel for asylum seekers.

On Saturday The Argus revealed Home Secretary David Blunkett's department had agreed to allow the Grand Ocean Hotel in Saltdean to provide temporary accommodation.

Neighbours who campaigned against the hotel's application were last year assured it had been turned down.

But in a shock letter to councillors chief executive David Panter revealed the Government had changed its mind and was allowing a small number of professionally-qualified immigrants to stay at the hotel.

Many residents claimed they had been betrayed and said the asylum seekers would strain local services.

Councillors are angry they have been barred from today's fact-finding meeting.

Mr Panter said: "It is an officers' meeting to gain clarity on what the proposals are for the use of Grand Ocean Hotel.

"I will then be in a position to further brief members."

Coun Lynda Hyde said: "We have a senior officer attempting to hold a meeting behind closed doors and looking to exclude elected members.

"He seems to have forgotten the role of an officer is to carry out the instructions of members."

Mr Panter said the council would be taking a neutral role but did not want costs to fall on council tax payers.