Eight members of Cornwall Council have decided to continue with a controversial bid to make Truro the European Capital of Culture in 2023 at a potential cost of up to £10 million - and refused to allow the full council to have a say.

All but one of the authority's cabinet voted in favour of the scheme, which has divided opinion and been declared both "an exciting and ambitious plan to showcase Cornwall’s cultural and artistic talent to the globe" and "like betting on a three-legged donkey at the Grand National."

The one cabinet member voting against the bid, Helston and Porthleven's Andrew Wallis, has now spoken out about why he was against the project, which will cost £336,000 for the first phase alone.

Mr Wallis said: "In short, I voted against this because the bid is flawed on the timeline needed, monies could be spent on the most vulnerable and there is not full political support for the European Capital of Culture. Not to mention post Brexit, there is little chance of winning the bid.

"It is should be noted, the bid rules make it clear any bid needs to be grassroots and supported from there. No reference has been made of this, or asked the public about their views."

He also attempted to change is so that the decision is made by all 123 members of the council, rather than just the nine-strong cabinet, but this was rejected by the other portfolio holders.

This was the second time the cabinet debated the bid, after their original decision to proceed was "called in" by the council's scrutiny committee.

The meeting was told that the costs of going ahead with the first phase of the bid would be £336,000, not the £536,000 originally reported, with potential economic benefits to Cornwall of up to £769,000.

"However, whilst this money is already in a budget (£60 million) of EU match-funding, the costs most people seem to be missing is the estimated £10 million that Cornwall Council will need to commit for this bid to work. "This is not in the council’s budget plan and there is no clear way how this could be funded," added Mr Wallis.

Mr Wallis also questioned how in reality a Cornwall-wide bid would work, if it just concentrated on existing large tourist sites.

"If commercial businesses are to benefit, it is a must they have to contribute, rather than the taxpayer footing the bill," he said.

"If town and villages are to be involved why haven’t they been asked? Will it be left to the town and parish councils to find funding?"

However, Julian German, the cabinet member for economy and culture has urged the county to now get behind the bid, saying: "After considered and rigorous debate, it’s now time to put doubts aside and get behind a significant, exciting and ambitious opportunity that could create over 2,000 jobs across Cornwall.

"We must not lose the energy, enthusiasm, vision and aspiration of this bid which will benefit the whole of Cornwall – not just Truro."

The council will now work with partners, politicians, communities, grass roots organisations, businesses and commercial organisations to submit the bid by late October.