Sefton Council are on a collision course with the Local Government Ombudsman that could lead to a public report.

Council officers and cabinet members rejected recommendations to compensate a group of allotment holders after the council acted unlawfully.

Anne Seex, The Local Government Ombudsman, has previously said her office might issue Sefton Council with a public report if they didn't pay the compensation.

She wanted the council to pay thousands of pounds to allotment holders who had been accused of having a criminal record or were unfairly locked out.

A council spokesman said: "Council officers are extremely unhappy with the investigation by the ombudsman and do not feel the report was fair or accurate.

"The ombudsman has not taken into account the views of the council to arrive at a balanced conclusion.

"It is not accepted that the council made false statements about a police caution.

"At a meeting with Anne Seex she was advised that the council had unfortunately lost confidence in the investigation."

Jim Dolan, the allotment holder who was locked out, believes the onus is now on the ombudsman to crackdown on the council.

He said: "There were up to 70 cases of misadministration that were admitted by the council's solicitor over two years ago.

"They were prepared to accept the settlement back then to avoid all these misadministration cases and a public report.

"The council have gone back on their word and we have made another complaint to the ombudsman that the report officers presented to the cabinet was grossly inaccurate.

"I have personally told councillors Paula Parry and Peter Dowd about our situation.

"We have got the evidence to back up what we are saying, the council are coming out with misleading statements and that is why the ombudsman sided with us."

If there is a public report then councillors will have to have a debate in a full council meeting.

By Andrew Ashcroft