An outgoing council leader has been criticised for describing members of a planning committee as "amateurs".

Ken Bodfish, who announced last week he would quit as leader of Brighton and Hove City Council, made the comment after the committee rejected proposals for a skyscraper at Brighton Marina.

He also described members who opposed a park-and-ride scheme in north Brighton as "parish councillors".

At Thursday's full council meeting at Brighton town hall councillors passed a motion to "remind" the Labour administration of its minority status and that its proposals "will not automatically be voted through unless it engages in proper and constructive consultation with other parties on the council".

Conservative finance spokesman Brian Oxley, who proposed the motion, said: "Given the present state of the parties Labour cannot expect to get all of its policies through unless they have political support beyond the Labour group."

Green Party convenor Keith Taylor said: "For the leader of the council to call the planning committee amateurs in a fit of pique is disgraceful."

Most Labour members, including Coun Bodfish, abstained. But rebel left winger Francis Tonks, who sits on the planning committee, backed the motion and said: "I'm still angry and feel insulted."