BROMSGROVE District Council is not alone in its sharp criticism of Best Value inspectors who made scathing comments in a recent report into the running of its depot services.

The council claimed the report in many cases is inaccurate and flawed.

Several local council's have since added their voices to the growing chorus of protests including the influential Society of Local Authority Chief Executives.

They are concerned about the cost to councils of delivering the government-initiated Best Value scheme and the quality and fairness of inspections.

Bromsgrove's case is highlighted in the leading article in a recent edition of the Municipal Journal.

Other authorities who have had cause to complain are Dudley Metropolitan Borough, Harlow, and Denbighshire County Council.

In Bromsgrove's case the report focuses on a number of criticisms many of which the council totally rejects.

One example is the number of bins missed by town refuse collectors.

The true figure it later emerged was less than half the national average.

Infuriated by what they read in the draft report Bromsgrove District Council cabinet members appealed to Best Value Inpectorate's regional office to highlight certain inaccuracies and make corrections before it was published.

Their protest fell on deaf ears forcing a high powered delegation from Bromsgrove to lobby chiefs in London and make a formal complaint.

The leader of Bromsgrove District Council Cllr Nick Psirides (Con Norton) said: "We are getting a lot of support from other authorities who find the arrogance and general incompetence of the inspectors unacceptable.

"Bromsgrove was one of the first councils to lodge an official complaint which is being processed by the audit commission."

Although several attempts have been made, prior to the Advertiser/Messenger going to press, there has been no one available from the Best Value Inspectorate to comment on the claims.