WIGAN Council has been named in the Local Government Ombudsman's report for failing to fuly co-operate during an investigation.

In her report for 2001-2 Mrs Patricia Thomas, Local Government Ombudsman for the West Midlands and north of England, said: "During my investigation into a complaint, Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council initially failed to produce one of its files for examination by my investigating officer.

"One of its officers gave incomplete and, in part, untrue evidence. I was so concerned that I felt the need to issue a reminder in my report that any attempt to mislead an Ombudsman in the execution of her function is the equivalent of contempt of court."

A Council spokesman said: "It is disappointing to be singled out in this way given the Council's good working relationship with the Ombudsman and its excellent track record on resolving complaints.

"We were greatly concerned that she believed a former employee gave incomplete and in part untrue evidence.

"The failure to produce the file was entirely accidental. As soon as it was located, the file was hand delivered to the Ombudsman's office in York at the instruction of the Director of Legal Services and the chief officer, along with our profuse apologies.

"The ombudsman accepted our explanation for the initial failure to produce the file. Indeed, we were later commended for our prompt and positive response to the Ombudsman's proposals for a local settlement.

"The fact that there were no charges of maladministration against the council last year illustrates that when things do occasionally go wrong, we put them right.

"The person concerned had left our employment at the time of the Ombudsman's investigation."