City councillors went ahead with plans to go without a cooked tea at full council meetings, opting instead for sandwiches.
At yesterday's executive board meeting, a food budget of £2,500 was set for 2002/2003, which means scrapping the hot meals provided at seven or eight council meetings a year.
The three-course meal costs £800 a time to provide, and is part of a £6m cost-cutting drive.
Council leader Corinna Redman suggested the hot meal should be provided only at the budget meeting, which can last from 4pm until midnight. This was rejected.
Cllr David Connett, executive member for housing, said: "If we are going to have sandwiches, we should have them before the meeting starts, so that council business can be processed in a business-like manner."
Cllr John Goddard, with responsibility for planning, added that he would like to see more interesting and tasty food which was less bulky and less costly.
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