Play areas may be sold off by Maidstone council to build houses.

Attempts were made to hold a secret discussion last week looking at the sale or lease of a number of council assets.

But these were defeated after a rebellion by eight councillors.

The sites under consideration for development include the play areas at Quarry Square and Snowdon Avenue in Maidstone, Mangravet Recreation Ground, Rosemary Road in Bearsted, and Park Wood Recreation Ground.

Maidstone council's policy and resources committee was due to consider a "property asset review" including suggestions on which assets might be sold or leased to third parties in a "Part 2" or closed session with press and public excluded, but councillors objected.

Cllr Derek Mortimer (Lib Dem) said: "There isn't enough privileged information in the papers to take this out of the public domain."

Cllr Marion Ring (Con) agreed, saying "I don't believe in hiding things. Why not let the public know what you want to do with their land?"

Cllr Matt Boughton (Con) said: "We have been elected by the public and they don't expect us to withhold information from them."

At one stage a vote was taken on a proposal by Cllr Mat Burton (Con) to consider the report in public that night. This was carried, but the decision then somehow got lost in further discussions.

The council's legal officer Patricia Narbor tried hard to persuade councillors the matters should be heard in private. She said giving away the council's view of the land holdings could undermine the borough's ability to gain the highest price if later it decided to sell.

She was supported by the council leader Cllr Martin Cox (Lib Dem) who said: "I hope we do as recommended."

The committee voted to defer discussion of the item to another meeting to give officers further time to convince them the matters should be held in secret.

Under the law, councils may hold discussions in private if they touch on the financial affairs of the council - but the word is "may" not must.

Cllr Fay Gooch (Ind) was quite happy to hold the talks in secret and on both votes asked for her dissent from the majority decision to be noted.

A council spokesman said afterwards: "It is important to state we are at the very early stages of the process. No decisions have been made."

Council leader Martin Cox, (Lib Dem) said: “The council has a duty to regularly review all assets within its portfolio to make sure they continue to represent good value and to consider how they can contribute to the health and wellbeing of the borough and its communities; this includes providing new homes.

“The review covers a range of issues including how property assets are currently used and why they are held, as well as any opportunities for efficiencies and increases in benefit or revenue.

“The report was intended to provide councillors feedback on the review process and to make them aware of the next steps only - no decision was required at this very early stage of the process.

“Before any formal decisions are made a full consultation process will take place involving the public and councillors.”