Critics of Brighton and Hove City Council's planning committee's decision to turn down the development at Brighton Marina didn't attend the meeting, which lasted five hours.

The issue was thoroughly discussed. The developers and objectors had half an hour to put their case. People who did attend told me they felt the proceedings were an example of democracy in action.

The committee is made up of elected councillors who take advice from planning officers but, in the end, we vote using our own judgement, without a party line or whipping system, not least because planners don't always get it right.

(Years ago, I remember experts telling us to put plastic minarets on the Royal Pavilion.)

As councillors, we are elected from a variety of backgrounds by the people of Brighton and Hove. We have a good deal of experience and it is right and proper for major developments to be debated in public and voted on by the city's elected representatives.

Any attempt by other councillors to improperly influence the voting of those members on future applications is a breach of the code of conduct we have all signed.

Councillor Ken Bodfish calling fellow councillors "amateurs" and "very irresponsible" is offensive and questions the democratic system of local government.

If he intends to hector and bully members into following his views, he will find himself before the council's standards committee for inappropriate behaviour.

-Councillor Francis Tonks, planning committee member, Brighton and Hove City Council, Bevendean and Moulescoomb ward