At Monday night's meeting the council discussed a Business Horsham letter that accused the council of poor customer relations, miscommunications and `no business development focus'.

Councillors and senior managers outlined various ways that the council supported business development.

Cr David Grimble said the council contributed $150,000 a year to Wimmera Development Association as part of its commitment to business development.

Cr Grimble said people would read the criticism and think the council had no business development programs in place.

"When I read the letter I thought we did have a lot in place. There are a lot of programs out there," he said.

Cr Gary Bird said the council had developed several streets in his seven years as councillor.

Cr Bird said the council had spent `quite a few million' on the Firebrace Street redevelopment.

He said Geelong businesses contributed $1 million a year to streetscapes.

"This council does a lot for business. We provide a lot of good advice," he said.

Cr Bird said there were many points of contact through different departments of the council and Wimmera Development Association.

Mayor Bernard Gross said he was at both meetings with Business Horsham and the business owners planning an Italian restaurant.

"There were a number of Business Horsham representatives asking questions and some answers were not to their liking," he said.

"The second meeting with the people applying for the Italian restaurant was very amicable. I thought we left the meeting with everyone satisfied.

"I'm disappointed the people who compiled this letter were not at the second meeting."

Cr Gross said after the meeting he believed the Italian restaurant would be established in Horsham with the owners understanding the conditions.