A Conservative councillor is calling for a full investigation into problems at Barnet Racial Equality Council [BREC].

Brian Coleman, Totteridge ward councillor and Greater London Assembly member for Barnet and Camden, is increasingly concerned at BREC's mounting problems.

"We need a full investigation," said Mr Coleman. "There are question marks over the use of public money."

Clouds have been gathering at BREC since its director Emkay-Magba Kamara was suspended then re-instated in July. Three executive committee members then resigned and BREC failed to meet a July 20 deadline for delivering audited statements of accounts to the Commission for Racial Equality [CRE].

The CRE withdrew BREC's funding programme last week following a decision by its commissioners that the organisation had not complied with their core standards for funding. CRE blamed this on concerns over BREC's governance and operational issues.

For the last nine months, Barnet Council has been concerned about BREC's failure to account fully for the £58,000 it gives BREC every year.

Council chief executive Leo Boland said: "The council continues to have financial and organisational concerns about BREC and therefore is still not releasing money.

"We're also still committed to meeting the needs of Barnet's black and minority ethnic communities. Obviously we're in touch with CRE and are continuing to monitor developments closely."

He did not comment on Mr Coleman's call for an investigation.