A council has been forced to issue a ‘ complete and utter ’ apology for squandering over £500,000 of taxpayers ’ money . Forest of Dean District Council accepted a humiliating motion criticising it for ‘ scandalous waste ’ over the past eight years after an ambush by Labour members . They forced through the vote , demanding an ‘ unqualified apology ’ , when the ruling Conservatives were left short of numbers at a meeting this week . Forest of Dean District Council was forced to apologise for squandering over £500,000 on renovation work . The council was criticised for spending nearly £400,000 on renovating a reception area at its offices and another £120,000 on demolishing a building which they failed to sell and which has lain empty for four years . It was also attacked for shutting the district ’ s tourism information offices and imposing charges for pest control , bulk waste and garden waste collections and car parking . The apology has already been posted on the authority ’ s website and in press releases . Labour councillor Di Martin , who introduced the motion , said the Conservative administration , which has run the council in Gloucestershire for eight years , ‘ has failed miserably to listen to the people of the Forest of Dean and as a result they have been badly let down , an unqualified apology is due ’ . Tory council leader Patrick Molyneux explained his party had abstained from voting against the embarrassing motion . She added : ‘ An apology is needed for the scandalous waste of taxpayers ’ money on the refurbishment of the district council ’ s reception area [ at a cost of £383,320 ] . ‘ The cost of refurbishment was meant to be recouped by the sale of Lawnstone House , which is now to be demolished at a further cost of £120,000. ’ Last night Tory council leader Patrick Molyneux explained why his party had abstained from voting against the embarrassing motion , which he dismissed as a ‘ blatant piece of electioneering ’ . ‘ We didn ’ t take part in the debate . We were down on our numbers and we weren ’ t sure we ’ d have the support to win in the chamber so we didn ’ t vote , ’ he said . ‘ We don ’ t regret it because it ’ s a stupid motion – it ’ s ill-founded and if anybody should hang their head in shame it is Di Martin . ‘ We were voted the most-improved council in the country in 2013 and if that ’ s something we should apologise for , she ’ s completely lost the plot. ’ Mr Molyneux added that the renovation work to the council ’ s offices – which included £13,550 to replace a CCTV system – was essential as it made the building more accessible to the disabled . ‘ It does seem like a lot but the old block where the reception was wasn ’ t disabled friendly . If she thinks that ’ s a waste of money , she ’ s missing the plot. ’ Independent members of the council criticised the ‘ mud-slinging contest ’ between the two main parties .
Forest of Dean District Council was criticised for its 'scandalous waste ' Authority spent nearly £400,000 renovating reception area at offices . The council has now been ordered to spend another £200,000 on a new kitchen and dining room in the same building.