Manging agents/freeholder responsibility to leaseholders

Other

This is really for RLA but perhaps some of you have had similar problems. I own a leasehold flat in a building of 12 flats. Over the last three years different Managing Agents have come and gone. The last one asked for money to replace the fire escape which is for the two top flats. We all paid but now we are told by the new agent that the money was used up for other things. The new agents say they cant be held responsible which is ofcourse true, but what recourse do we have. At a meeting with the freeholder in 2008 the lesees asked that the agent be changed. Nothing happened for another year during which time this has happened. Is this the freeholders business to sort out or ours? thanks