West Dunbartonshire Council (WDC) conducted an internal probe after it was revealed Katrien Praats had come into contact with council services shortly before the tragic incident.

However, the full report will not be released to either councillors or members of the public. Instead, a short summary has been sent to elected members only.

The Post has obtained a copy of the confidential bulletin, which states how the Belgian national Katrien Praats, 58, was in touch with council services “sporadically” in the days leading up to the incident.

It states that council staff followed procedure when dealing with Ms Praats, but adds: “However, several areas where process improvements could be made were identified and will be progressed by the relevant directors.” Councillor Jim Bollan told the Post he has been conducting his own investigation after being refused access to the report by council bosses.

According to the councillor’s research, Ms Praats had presented herself as homeless to council staff in Clydebank on several occasions.

Councillor Bollan claims that, on the same morning she set herself alight, the woman was twice denied a face-to-face interview with a homeless persons officer.

Councillor Bollan said: “It is important that Katrien’s family and friends know the facts about the service Katrien received from WDC immediately before her horrific death. It will also enable WDC to learn any lessons we need to from this tragedy.

“Given I was refused a copy of the report I intend to share the facts surrounding the quality and quantity of service Katrien received from WDC immediately before her death.” Ms Praats died in Glasgow Royal Infirmary more than two weeks after she set herself on fire in the waiting area of the police station in the morning of January 7. Police said her death was not being treated as suspicious.

Councillor Bollan said the woman presented herself as homeless via the phone to a stand-by officer on January 3, 2015. After being cut off she made contact again the follow day by phone.

Councillor Bollan insists that police had also spoken to WDC on behalf of Ms Praats twice before.

She presented herself as homeless at council offices on January 7, just minutes before the tragic incident.

Ms Praats had returned to Belgium briefly to collect belongings and upon her return a room she was renting in Clydebank was no longer available, causing her to be homeless. Prior to renting a room she had stayed in Inverclyde.

Councillor Bollan said: “Katrien presented personally at the council’s homeless service in Clydebank on January 7, 2015 but was refused a face-to-face interview twice that day with any homeless persons officer, which is completely unacceptable in itself. “Katrien had been renting a room in a private home in Clydebank and therefore under the Homeless Persons Act had a legal right to be given temporary emergency accommodation by WDC while her case was assessed.

“Had this happened Katrien might still be alive today. Because Katrien lived in Clydebank this established the local connection needed to assess her case under the Homeless Persons Act. “Katrien instead was advised that day West Dunbartonshire Council had no legal obligation to give her temporary emergency accommodation while her request to be assessed as homeless was considered, and was given bus tokens to take her back to Inverclyde where she lived before coming to live in Clydebank.” The Scottish Socialist Party politician accused the council of trying to keep the facts surrounding the incident “secret”.

He added: “This information may go some way to explain why WDC want the report kept secret. As an elected councillor I will not be party to this cover up and believe it is in the public interest that I share this information given an innocent Belgian national has lost her life.” Councillor Denis Agnew, whose ward the incident took place in, told the Post the tragedy is something the council must learn from.

He said: “It’s a tragedy and sometimes words are not enough. When it starts to emerge that the lady had come up from Inverclyde, clearly in need of help, and went to the police and the council’s one stop shop — it’s just an absolute tragedy.

“The woman was shocked and in need of help. I’m concerned that nobody managed to ascertain the state of mind she was in, as difficult as it may have been.

“As a council, and all agencies, we need to be better prepared and be able to read the signs if anyone comes in, and that does take experience. It’s quite clear from this sad incident that the woman needed help.” He added: “I wouldn’t get into the blame culture here. In these circumstances how can we, as a society, try and understand and help people? One death like this is one too many.” The Police Investigation and Review Commission told the Post they have sent a report regarding a woman who set herself on fire in Clydebank Police Station on January 7 to the Crown Office.

A West Dunbartonshire Council spokesman said: “We have nothing to add to the summary information provided to councillors.”