NEWPORT council is to set up a special group - to find out why the meals served up at its civic dinner proved so unpopular.

Last week the Argus revealed a number of guests at the annual dinner, held at Newport Centre last month, complained about the fish, the dessert and the waitress service.

Now a working group is to be established, to examine why there were so many complaints.

The council's catering manager, Steve Kelly, said the facilities staff had to work with were limited and that compliments had also been received. The standard of catering at the dinner was due to be discussed at a meeting of the council's subject scrutiny forum on Governance Culture and Adult Education. But Councillor Jim Kirkwood, chairman of the forum, said he saw "very little point" in the council debating the issue until further information was available. He added: "All of us have personal choices about food, the way it's presented, and menus." Councillor Kirkwood suggested the best way forward was to set up a working group to visit Newport Centre and inspect the kitchen. The group will then ascertain if improvements were needed in light of future events scheduled for next year. Forum member Councillor Steve Down said he thought the group should not confine its inspection to the leisure centre, but should look at all aspects of catering provision by the council.

Complaints about the meal had included: the hake fillet with pepper sauce, described on the menu, was served with a wedge of lime instead of sauce the hake had an unpleasant smell one guest had carrots dropped one side of him and potatoes on the other the apple strudel and custard was served cold greasy fingerprints on the plates wine was allowed to drip from the bottle as it was served.

Catering manager Mr Kelly replied to the criticism by saying it was a testament to the work of the catering staff that a dinner for 165 was produced, given the poor kitchen facilities.

He said compliments had been received from guests including the mayor, Councillor Ron Morris, Assembly Members, councillors and senior council officials.

The forum agreed the group should be set up and the following five councillors volunteered work on it; Steve Down, John Guy, Harry Williams, Hugh Clark and Ken Powell.