A POOLE council "Search for the Mole" investigation has failed to uncover who leaked sensitive confidential information to the Daily Echo about financial miscalculations over the proposed Creekmoor park-and-ride project.

Bob Harris, the head of democratic services, will tell members of the Standards committee tomorrow: "This was always going to be an extremely difficult investigation, if not impossible, and this has certainly proved to have been so."

A written report by Mr Harris to the committee, which will be chaired by Canon Peter Webb, states that Daily Echo reporter Michael Litchfield "indicated fairly early on that he would not be prepared to disclose information or co-operate in the investigation as he wished to preserve press contacts".

"The editor (Neal Butterworth) had, after taking legal and other advice, decided to print the story in the public interest and because they did not feel it was a confidential matter."

The leaked document was due to have been discussed by members of the Executive with the press and public excluded.

The "mole" considered this a misuse of the confidentiality procedure in view of the council taxpayers' right to know how their money was being spent or misspent.

Mr Harris's account continues: "The editor confirmed that they would not disclose any information about the leak, even if they knew the answers to my questions.

"He did say that in regard to confidential information that was submitted to them, they would make a judgement in each case as to whether to print it or not.

"He also said that, in accordance with their usual practice, they would offer the party concerned an opportunity to comment and that Cllr Bob Williams had been asked for his comments and had declined to do so."

In his conclusions, Mr Harris says: "Given the non co-operation of the recipient and the lack of any other information, it is impossible to establish who leaked this particular document.

"As far as I am aware, this is the only leak to have occurred since we have been a unitary authority and, therefore, whilst disappointing, is probably not worth spending more time and effort in trying to prevent a future occurrence."