A move to get Twitter banned during council meetings has been dropped.

Instead, Leicester City Council is drawing up a new policy to make it clear that councillors can still use the micro-blogging website in meetings.

The authority is following the lead of the House of Commons, where members are allowed to access and use the internet during debates.

The Twitter website allows people to post 140-character text updates from their mobile phone. It is often used by councillors, journalists and the public at monthly full council meetings.

The move to ban its use was made by Labour chief whip Barbara Potter, in March. At a meeting of the full council, she said it should not be "allowed, or tolerated" in the chamber.

The city council said it would consider the "interesting point".

But it has now issued a statement saying: "In line with the model adopted in Westminster, the city council will have no restriction on people using Twitter, or other mobile telephone services, such as texting or using a Blackberry, during meetings, so long as doing so doesn't disrupt the meeting."

It is understood senior council executives intervened on the issue to help make the council more open and transparent.

Rules on council meetings were laid down in 1972. People can be banned from allowing outside individuals to see, or hear a meeting, but text updates are a grey area which do not appear to be covered by the rules.

Conservative group leader Ross Grant won a national award for embracing new technology, such as Twitter, in carrying out his role.

He said: "I'm pleased the council has taken the common sense approach to this.

"If MPs can use Twitter in Parliament, then it's only right that we can use it at meetings here in the city.

"Some people might call it a waste of time, but I believe it helps people who I represent to keep up with what I'm doing on their behalf.

"It also makes it incredibly easy for people to get in touch with me throughout the day."

Coun Potter said she had nothing against the use of social networking sites, such as Twitter and Facebook, but said it was inappropriate to use them during council business.

She said: "It's part of modern technology, which we all love, and without it our jobs would be made very difficult. But there is a time and a place for Twitter and Facebook.

"People should be concentrating on the issues raised in chambers, not making personal comments.

"If people want to find time to do this then I have no objections, but go off and do it when the politics is finished and not while we're doing something paid for by taxpayers' wages."

New Prime Minister David Cameron last week banned Cabinet members from using their mobiles to Tweet, or text during their meeting.