BLACK Country brewed beers should be served in council owned buildings as part of the council's supporting of local businesses, a councillor has argued.

The request comes as councillor Keiran Casey called for a change to the Council's procurement policy to favour goods and services produced and supplied locally at last week's Full Council meeting.

In support of the motion, fellow Upper Gornal and Woodsetton councillor Adam Aston produced a bottle of Holden's Beer to the Chamber as an example of how the local authority could help support local business.

Cllr Aston told the chamber: "None of the beers available in Council halls, such as Dudley Town Hall have been brewed locally, with some having been brewed as far away as The Netherlands and the USA.

"Yet not two miles away from the Town Hall there are two award winning breweries in the ward I represent, Fownes Brewery based at The Jolly Crispin in Upper Gornal and the much larger Holden's Brewery in Woodsetton."

Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Casey added: "Holden's is an excellent example of a community focused company. Their recent limited edition 'Abraham Darby 1st Molton Glow' was brewed in honour of the father of the Industrial Revolution who was born locally.

"We are extremely proud of local breweries right across the Borough so should see companies like this being supported by the Council's procurement policy and buying power."

The motion calling on the Council to favour locally supplied goods and services was passed by councillors at the last Full Council meeting on April 8.