DARTMOUTH Town Council is considering hiring a human resources expert to help deal with staff issues, it has been revealed.

Mayor Cllr Rob Lyon and deputy Cllr Richard Cooke have already spoken with professionals in employment matters.

Cllr Cooke said they had contacted companies who offer human resources advice to small organisations, such as where three or four people worked in an office together.

'This was on everything from employment law to all the rest of it,' it told a meeting of the town council's personnel committee.

He said while the council had a number of policies in place, there might be some things not covered.

'We felt that an external review would be useful,' he said.

Cllr Paul Allen said it implied in a private paper accompanying the agenda that discussions might involve an individual and that debate should continue in committee without the press or public.

But Cllr Iris Pritchard said it had been advertised as a meeting open to the public and there was nothing on the agenda to indicate a part two item.

Town clerk Tracy Rowe said the meeting could go into committee if it would be discussing a member of staff by name.

Eventually it was agreed by four votes to two to continue discussions behind closed doors.