A MOVE to set up an inquiry into a ‘half a million pound black hole’ in the district council’s finances was rejected last week.

Cinderford West Councillor Lynn Sterry asked the Forest of Dean District Council to note that the £400,000 refurbishment of their reception area was made by the authority’s cabinet against the wishes of the full council and that the demolition of Lawnstone House had cost an extra £110,000.

She asked for a full scrutiny inquiry into the loss of funds that would take evidence in public from the cabinet members who went against the wishes of the full council and officers who advised them but was unsuccessful.

Cllr Sterry said: “This has been going on unrecognised for quite some time.

“I really do feel that the public who support us should know that there’s half-a-million pounds gone down the black hole in basement.

“It went against the specific wishes of the full council who advised the cabinet there was no need to spend money on the reception.

“It was purely speculative, ill advised and ill conceived. I don’t think it’s right that we should be speculating with tax payers’ money.

“It seems this money was just wiped away and nobody is doing anything about it.

“It needs to be discussed and talked about we need to know why it has happened. It’s a big hole in our budget.”

Since Lawnstone House was vacated in 2009 the authority has made a saving of £28,000 a year in terms of utilities, cleaning and staff cost, according to the district council.

Council Leader Patrick Molyneux said: “This was done a while ago when we were on the verge of special measures and one of the huge criticisms we had was access to the building and the facilities we have in Coleford.

“Lawnstone House is where the housing team used to reside. It was a very old and costly building. “It wasn’t insulated and the electrics of the century before last and was very bad for disable access in particular.

“We were essentially running two receptions and ofter people had to go to both to complete their bit of business when they came to the council.

“We also had a safety issue as there weren’t proper facilities for officers to interview members of the public while being in a safe environment.

“The best form of action was to move officers to the main building and make the reception fit for purpose.”