AN MP is accusing a council of a “disgraceful cover up” over the future of sheltered flats in Bramhope.

Leeds North West MP Greg Mulholland says a Freedom of Information request has shown that Leeds City Council made false statements and misled elderly residents about plans for the Rosemont complex.

The council apologised to residents last year after a letter was sent out on September 22 telling them the flats were to close. Residents were told the letter had been sent out in error and that no decision had yet been made.

But now Mr Mulholland says his investigation has unearthed proof that the council had taken the decision but had then backtracked in the face of a public furore.

He claims an email sent by a council officer on September 16 made it clear that a closure decision had been made in principle and that executive board member Peter Gruen had agreed to it – contradicting a statement made by Mr Gruen in October.

The MP says the information he received via the FoI request highlighted other discrepancies between what the council had said publicly and what had actually happened.

He claims the new information has “exposed a clear attempt to both cover up this shameful episode and worse still, to scapegoat a junior officer claiming that it was their fault.”

He said: “Leeds City Council’s treatment of the residents at Rosemont has been nothing short of shambolic but this latest information exposes the fact that the council have made false statements, which is disgraceful and completely unacceptable. They had clearly decided to close and demolish the flats but following the backlash from residents and the community they have shamelessly tried to deny and cover up their actions.

“The council are simply not being honest by claiming there was no decision made to close Rosemont – there clearly was, the most senior officer was aware of the process and the recommendation to close Rosemont was agreed by the Executive Board member, Peter Gruen.”

A Leeds City Council spokesman said: “It is entirely wrong to suggest we’ve been involved in some kind of cover-up. Mr Mulholland is confusing the discussions which take place within the council to establish its proposals with the formal process of decision making. No formal decision around closure was ever made. We accepted that there were some errors in communicating with tenants, for which we apologised. We have offered on a number of occasions to brief Mr Mulholland about this.”

Cllr Gruen dismissed Mr Mulholland’s claims as “pre-election mischief”.

He added: “We categorically refute the suggestion that we have acted inappropriately in this case. We have offered Mr Mulholland briefings and explanations on this, which he has refused to take part in.

“We have instructed an independent architect to assess whether the building is capable of being adapted. Hopefully the Council and residents can reach agreement about the facts of what it is possible to do with the building and we can begin a meaningful consultation from there.

“Perhaps we could leave politics at the door and try to do what is right for residents in Leeds.”