LABOUR group leader Cllr Peter McDonald was thrown a challenge when he unsuccessfully asked fellow members of the council to back his call for an investigation over the alleged existence of a report from the Health and Safety Executive.

Bromsgrove District council's corporate director, Bob Lewis, clearly angry at Cllr McDonald's suggestion of a "cover up", challenged him to provide evidence that a report existed, during a meeting of the full council on October 16.

Cllr McDonald had put forward a motion calling for officers and senior Tory councillors to be investigated over an alleged report about safety at Bromsgrove's Dolphin Centre.

Mr Lewis told the meeting he was "disappointed" Cllr McDonald would not believe what he had been told so often, that a report does not exist and was angry that the integrity of council officers was called into question by his assertion of a "cover up."

But after the meeting Cllr McDonald said he was still not convinced.

He said: "There is now a need to seek advice about taking the matter further."

Council leader Cllr Nick Psirides (Con, Norton) said: "As usual Cllr McDonald has got the wrong end of the stick.

"I can confirm there is no report from the Health and Safety Executive.