For libraries using the holds queue, they should have the ability to deny filling the hold so it would push the item onto the next branch's holds queue without having to wait for the cron to run. Right now, the only way to move an item off a library's queue is to mark it as missing/lost or damaged.
I agree with having a way to immediately deny an item that we know we will not be sending (for whatever reason). The current workarounds either cause other issues/additional steps for staff or the hold gets stuck at a library that will not send it. This would also help with items that should be caught by the cron job but are missed (whether the item record has the wrong information or through another bug).