Camden council has postponed its discussion on the Great Court Scheme of the British Museum for the fifth time. This time it has been put back to 24 May.

At its meeting on 14 December the council\'s development control committee decided to seek independent legal advice about its options regarding the use of French Anstrude Roche Claire to build the south portico rather than the Portland limestone it believed it had approved.

It commissioned a report from a QC, which the council officers have asked for time to respond to.

English Heritage have said the French limestone portico should be retained, a position supported by the council\'s officers in December. Councillors were not so sure.

If the council decided the portico had been built in breach of planning permission it could fine the British Museum or order the portico to be rebuilt in Portland stone.

Meanwhile, the investigation by the fraud squad at Scotland Yard continues into the alleged non-fulfilment of a contract at the British Museum.