A war of words broke out between the Mayor of South Tyneside and an opposition leader after a question about Newcastle Airport was blocked.
Coun George Elsom was refused permission to ask about the airport’s affairs at a full meeting of the council.
Mayor, Coun Eileen Leask, ruled that Coun Elsom had not fully explored other avenues or resolved the matter with other members before raising the issue.
Words were exchanged as Coun Elsom tried to raise the matter as a point of order.
Coun Elsom, opposition leader on South Tyneside Council, said: “It is a point of order and you have to take it.
“You want to keep mum about the airport and I have tried for three months to get some answers. I did try elsewhere.”
Earlier this year, Coun Iain Malcolm, leader of South Tyneside Council, expressed his anger after it was revealed former airport chief executive John Parkin and finance director Lars Friis were due bonuses of £8.5m.
The bonuses were agreed after they arranged a £377m remortgage for the airport.
Although the bonuses were later reduced in an out of court settlement, the row has rumbled on.
South Tyneside Council is one of seven local authorities which own 51 per cent of the airport.