An inquiry into the financial problems surrounding the repaving of Oxford's Cornmarket Street will begin behind closed doors.

The decision to launch the official inquiry tomorrow in private has led to accusations of a "cover-up".

The investigation was ordered by Oxfordshire County Council's executive in May after the cost of repaving the street reached £5.1m -- double the original estimate.

A briefing note sent to the man who is leading the inquiry, demanded a "fully transparent inquiry" held in public.

But the Oxford Mail has learned that the joint committee -- comprising members of the county and city councils, under the independent chairmanship of Rex Knight, the vice-chancellor of Oxford Brookes University -- will launch its inquiry in private.

Both authorities claim the launch is simply a chance for Mr Knight to meet the committee. But John Power, the Labour county councillor for Oxford West, who is on the committee, said: "What the public wants to know is who was to blame for each and every blunder, who's going to carry the can, and who will be out of the door. But I have a deep suspicion that they're the very questions that won't be addressed."

The Cornmarket repaving scheme, a combined venture between the city and county councils, was due to go ahead at a cost of £2.7m in 2002.

Two years later the cost of the scheme has doubled and the work is still not finished.

The independent inquiry was ordered after calls from Mr Power.

A briefing sheet to Mr Knight from Julian Hehir, the county council's scrutiny review officer, dated August 4, said: "The review will be an evidence-based, fully transparent inquiry, and in hearing and inspecting evidence its proceedings will be open to the public.

"Overall, it aims to achieve greater public accountability and transparency, and improve effectiveness, which are all necessary conditions of healthy local government."

Mr Hehir said both councils hoped that the review could be completed in about three months. He suggested an initial meeting to establish members' views, after which Mr Knight would be able to decide on the review's remit and a brief and timescale for key events and meetings.

Mr Power said: "The scrutiny officer's letter makes it clear it is more than a chummy get-together.

"This is the meeting when the whole remit will be decided. If that isn't of public interest, then what is?

He added: "One of the biggest questions council taxpayers want answering is 'who was responsible for entering into a contract with a company, Stenoak, that was on the brink of going bust?' -- and did so within a few months.

"I've no doubt Mr Knight is an honourable man, but there are people in the background who will be trying to manipulate him."

Mr Power is not the only councillor unhappy at the decision.

Jim Campbell, who represents the city's St Margaret's ward, said: "If there's any suggestion that this scrutiny is anything less than totally open to the public, then there's no way that I will take part."

Mr Knight said tomorrow's meeting would not be public because it was only "determining the scope" of the scrutiny.

He declined to comment further.

A spokesman for the county council said a statement would be issued after tomorrow's meeting and not before.