Senior city council officers paid hundreds of pounds for a conference room at Oxford's Masonic Lodge -- because the Freemasons were meeting at the town hall.

The bizarre building swap happened last year when hundreds of members of the city's Masonic Grand Lodge visited the town hall, in St Aldate's, for their annual meeting.

They booked the main hall and three other rooms, forcing 30 senior staff to meet elsewhere. The council charged the Masons more than £1,000 and is thought to have paid several hundred pounds to use the Masons' Oxford Centre, in Banbury Road.

Marion Headicar, the council's chief executive, decided to hire the private venue because an alternative needed to be found at short notice.

A number of councillors claim that money was wasted because other council-owned buildings could have been used free of charge.

Cllr Alex Hollingsworth, leader of the council's Labour group, said: "This is bizarre, but it's also an expensive way of going about things. There are perfectly good conference facilities in community centres across Oxford."

Liberal Democrat Cllr David Connett added: "Alternative council accommodation can be used, if the town hall is full, and that would save money."

Mrs Headicar said she did not know the exact cost of the outside booking, but admitted it could have been several hundred pounds. She said no suitable council accommodation was available at short notice.

The conference was a crucial one, she said, to inform staff about the creation of 23 new business units.

"In the past, we have used the West Oxford Community Centre for a session," she said.

The Leopold Room at the Oxford Centre, suitable for a conference for 30 people, costs £175 a day. Tea, coffee and biscuits are an extra £155.

Masons' spokesman Willy Bankes declined to comment.