A Freedom of Information request has revealed Wirral planning department has "lost track of its cash and obligations to local communities", according to a councillor.

Leasowe reperesentative Ian Lewis has been investigating the local authority's planning procedures - and he says they are "a shambles."

He sounded the alarm after a recent spat with planners over a legal agreement made 14 years ago to build a play park for an estate in Leasowe.

In 1997, the council granted developers permission to build the new homes on the proviso they lodge a sum of money - in this case £56,000 - with the authority to be used to build a children's play area for the estate.

Such a deal is known as a "106 Agreement" and is a legally-binding obligation linked to the granting of planning permission.

However, until last week the council had never enforced the contract and the cash sat on its ledger gaining interest, increasing it to £70,000.

It was only when the developer insisted planners should either go ahead and have the park built or return the money to them that the issue came into the public spotlight.

Soon after, Cllr Lewis submitted a Freedom of Information request demanding to know how many other 106 Agreements have been made and whether or not they have been acted upon.

The council's reply has "stunned" him.

There have been 144 such contracts in recent years - but no one in the town hall knows if they have been carried out and the necessary building work completed.

Councillor Lewis told the Globe: "Developers have handed over money to the council in return for gaining planning permission.

"But the council cannot tell us if the money in the 144 cases I have uncovered has been spent on the purpose for which it was given. "If the money has not been spent, then what has happened to it?

“The council’s procedures and polices on accepting money from developers have been exposed as a shambles."

He added: "We know of at least 144 agreements where cash has been handed over since 1997 – how many more go back even further? "We must now have an open, transparent report on these agreements.

"If necessary, that will require a member of the planning department to visit each and every one of the 144 developments."

A town hall information officer wrote to Cllr Lewis saying it would not be possible to fulfil his request.

The reason given was that it would require all the sites being inspected to see if the agreements had been complied with.

But to do that would take officers over the "appropriate time limit" of 18.5 hours allowed by FoI legislation.

The officer suggested he resubmit the request "reducing the rather large timeframe."