A councillor has resigned from a leading post in protest at plans to send officials on a £3,600 trip to Los Angeles.

Paul Elgood is stepping down as leader of the Liberal Democrat group on Brighton and Hove City Council after a row with council leader Ken Bodfish.

He is furious at plans to fly two officers and an adviser to the United States next month to meet the architects behind the controversial King Alfred development in Hove.

They will be discussing the latest design proposals for the £220 million scheme.

The Argus reported last week that much of the bill for the trip would be picked up by the developer, Karis ING.

The cost of the flights, hotels and other expenses will be £1,200 each.

Coun Elgood, who will remain as a councillor after leading the Lib Dem group for six years, is understood to have exchanged angry words with Coun Bodfish when he raised the issue in the leader's office on Wednesday.

His resignation could cause difficulties for the Labour leadership at a time when several controversial issues such as the planned privatisation of council housing are on the agenda. As leader of the Lib Dems on a hung council, his support was often crucial to Labour.

Coun Elgood said he could not continue as leader of his group because the plan, scheduled for the beginning of November, would still go ahead despite his opposition.

He said: "I tried hard to persuade the Labour administration that this trip was inappropriate and should not take place.

"They rejected my requests. I disagree with this decision so strongly that I cannot be in a position of leadership in a hung council when such actions are being taken.

"There is a general perception about such trips which is damaging to the council."

Mr Elgood, who is to continue as chairman of the equalities forum, complained that many voters failed to understand how stressful being a leading councillor could be.

His successor, retired businessman David Watkins, 70, a former mayor, is expected to take a much less sympathetic approach to Labour.

Coun Elgood said he could be persuaded to return to his post in the new year.

Mr Watkins said: "Paul is the longest-serving leader at the city council and I am amazed he has lasted this long.

"He still has the full confidence and support of the group and I am taking the load off his shoulders for a couple of months."

Coun Bodfish defended the decision to send a team to America to discuss changes in the design of the leisure and housing complex for the King Alfred site.

He said: "It is proper that authorised officers should go and look at the plans.

"If he feels so strongly about this, he should put it to the council and the majority view will prevail."

Architect Frank Gehry has invited the officials to his offices to look at scale models of the development, dubbed "tin cans" by opponents.

The cost of the trip will be met from project funds made up of a "substantial sum" from the developer and the city council.