AN insurance oversight which left a Rossendale Council hall without cover was the fault of the trust which runs the premises.

Whitworth Recreation and Leisure Trust was created in April 2000 to run Whitworth Civic Hall. But only after robbers stole more than £2,300 from the building, after injuring the hall keeper David Thomson did the lack of insurance on the building come to light.

Not only can the loss not be recouped, but there is no insurance if Mr Thomson makes any claim on his employer.

The trust secretary Coun Ron Pickup approached the council's treasurer about insurance cover, especially for property and third party (public liability) insurance, and the trust was verbally informed that cover was not in place.

A report from treasurer Richard Hargreaves to the corporate policy committee on Tuesday states: "The nature of the agreement between the trust and the council means that there is still a requirement of the council to protect its position.

"The council retains ownership of Whitworth Civic Hall and consequently requires property insurance and also third party responsibility.

"The secretary of the trust was, on a number of occasions, informed that this cover is in place and still is. The council has a legal interest and can still be the person against which third party claims can be made by the public.".

The council's own insurers, Zurich Municipal, has said it would be beyond the council's powers to extend its employer's liability, employee assault and employee personal accident policy cover to the employees and volunteers of the trust because the council has no control over them.

Mr Hargreaves' report goes on to say the secretary was given the name of a potential insurer on a number of occasions and each time it was reported back that the matter was 'in hand' -- but the insurance only commenced in May 2002 some days after the robbery.

Coun Pickup was not available to comment.