A race campaigner has heavily criticised council leaders in Birmingham for not attending a conference exploring multicultural issues in the city.
Simon Woolley, director of the Operation Black Vote race campaign group, described a decision by council leader Mike Whitby and interim chief executive Stephen Hughes not to attend the event yesterday as "lamentable".
However, a council official said both men had prior commitments. The conference, which was held at Jongleurs comedy club on Broad Street, looked at ethnic issues in the city.
Mr Woolley described the non- attendance by Coun Whitby (Con Harborne) and Mr Hughes as "a snub to young people, the community and those working to rebuild community relations".
A spokeswoman from Birmingham City Council said: "No snub was intended."
