The leader of Teignbridge Council has been warned that delaying discussions on important issues could disadvantage local residents.

Council managing director Phil Shears expressed his caution at a meeting of the council's executive committee on Tuesday.

Council leader Martin Wrigley (Lib Dem, Dawlish NE) called for some agenda items to be deferred because there hadn't been enough time to consider them properly. They included the executive's own forward plan, the council's housing assistance policy and investment in a new scout hut at Highweek.

On housing policy, Mr Shears told the council leader he was deferring a decision that would allow disabled residents to get adaptations made to their homes without going through means testing.

He went on: "You are saying that residents applying for grants would have to go through a means testing process, costing them money, until you hear this item.

"You are delaying the point at which residents can get their funding."

 He said money to pay for the scout hut had been in place for a long time, and added: "Deferring this could disadvantage your communities and your residents."

But Cllr Wrigley is adamant more time is needed.

He said: "These are important reports and they must go through due process. They must be discussed by the executive. If policy and strategy is being created without being discussed by the executive, that is unacceptable."

His motion to defer the discussions was carried.