Douglas councillors have backed a motion to explore the possibility of selling advertising space on its vehicles.

The council’s environmental services committee asked for support to obtain quotes and to develop a guidance document setting out advert criteria following an approach being made by a local estate agent.

Members of the committee were told by officers that in 2013 the council had agreed that the only advertising on council vehicles should be that which highlights recycling and useful council phone numbers.

The idea was met with stern opposition from councillors. Councillor Claire Wells called it a ’very poor’ idea and that council property should ’only be advertising things that we do’.

Councillor Karen Angela agreed and she said she was concerned that it could appear as if the council was ’endorsing’ any potential advertisers.

And Councillor John Clague said that if it was to happen the council had to be wary saying ’imagine if we’d had Thomas Cook advertising’.

Bizarrely chairman of the committee Councillor Ritchie McNicholl said while he voted for the motion in committee, he ’agreed’ with Councillor Andrew Bentley who was the only member of the committee to vote against it. But Mr McNicholl said he ’decided to vote for it to let it take its course’.

He also agreed with councillors who said the motions should have been referred to the council’s executive committee as it was a council issue rather than a committee one.

During the committee meeting, there was discussion about which particular vehicles would be used for advertising space and it was agreed that the smaller vehicles may not be suitable.

Members requested that images of how the advertising may look once on the vehicle be presented to them and asked officers to ensure that each vehicle remains clearly identifiable as belonging to Douglas Borough Council.

It was also agreed that recycling vehicles should only advertise recycling services.