Councillors have clashed over a move by unionist parties to defer a special council meeting on bonfires until September.
The meeting of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council on Wednesday night had been called by Alliance to adopt legal advice on bonfires built on the local authority's land.
It was adjourned until September following a proposal from TUV which was seconded by the UUP and backed by other unionists, Alliance said.
Read more: DUP councillor suspended from planning committee over applications lobbied on by MLA
The party's councillor Aaron Skinner described the delay as "unbelievable" and warned it could place the council in "legal jeopardy".
He said: "It is unbelievable unionist councillors have now voted to adjourn this special meeting until September, when bonfire season is over. That defeats the entire purpose of this meeting.
"Mid and East Antrim Borough Council desperately needs a strategy to deal with those who wish to build bonfires on its land due to issues around public safety.
"Failure to do so is exposing the council and individual councillors to potential legal jeopardy, while putting members of the public's lives at risk."
TUV councillor Timothy Gaston said the issue of bonfire management was a "work in progress".
He questioned the timing of the special council meeting, less than three weeks before the Eleventh Night.
"Now that the council election is out of the way, Alliance has once again showed it is no friend to unionism," he told the Irish News.
The council has been considering its approach to bonfires built on its land following safety concerns after the death last year of a man who fell from a pyre in Larne.
Father-of-two John Steele, 36, had been helping to construct the Eleventh Night bonfire in the Antiville area.
The council meeting was due to discuss legal advice the local authority received several months ago around potential public liability over bonfires built on its land.
It is believed councillors are considering whether to state clearly it does not consent to bonfires on its land, in a bid to avoid possible liability for any issues which arise.
The issue of bonfires had been due for discussion behind closed doors at meetings over recent months but has been deferred several times.
Around 20 bonfires are on council land in the borough, which includes Ballymena, Larne and Carrickfergus.
Builders in the Craigyhill estate in Larne last year sought to set a "world record" for the tallest ever bonfire, reaching a height of around 202ft.
Fundraising efforts to have this year's pyre officially recognised by Guinness World Records have been redirected towards a young girl needing cancer treatment.
Mr Skinner said: "We do not want to see bonfires removed entirely but they must be safe and respectful.
"We welcome some local bonfires committing to being on the council's bonfire scheme and some have opted to reduce the scale of fires or opt for beacons, and we want to build on that.
"It is vital the legal recommendations presented to council are adopted, so going forward we will be able to engage with local communities about a safe way forward which enables the celebration of culture in a way which doesn't put anyone at risk."
The DUP, UUP and TUV were approached for comment.
The council did not respond to requests for a comment about the meeting.
In a previous statement, a spokesman said: "Mid and East Antrim Borough Council works closely with relevant statutory partners and the community in relation to bonfires throughout the area.
"Council has developed a Cultural Celebrations Working Group with the aim of strengthening partnerships between local community leaders and statutory partners to encourage safe and responsible cultural celebrations."
For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.
