Council chief faces being suspended in planning row
29 December 2005 - Western Mail
THE chief executive of one Wales' biggest local authorities could be facing suspension at a special meeting tomorrow.
Tim Thorogood, who is paid £120,000 a year at Swansea City and County Council, has been called before a hastily-convened panel of councillors.
It will examine complaints about the development of a barn-style garage at the chief executive's luxury home on Gower.
In a dramatic ending to the year for the council, Mr Thorogood was asked to leave his office at County Hall last week by another senior officer.
It was a routine procedure as the chief executive could not remain in charge of the authority investigating the planning application which he submitted.
The application was made jointly with his wife Alison.
The complaints, from the Gower Society, Rhossili Community Council and some Rhossili residents, centre on exactly what use the garage is to be put to.
From the outside a number of windows can be seen on the garage, at the rear of Mr Thorogood's house, Broad Park, which overlooks Rhossili Bay.
A senior member of the council said yesterday the general purposes panel has the power, if it was found necessary, to suspend the chief executive. An independent investigator would then be appointed to look into the planning row.
Mr Thorogood, whose hobbies including sailing and horse riding, joined the authority three years ago from Haringey Council in London where he was director of support services. His wife Alison now works for neighbouring Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council as a complaints officer and is a Swansea magistrate.
Mr Thorogood announced on joining the authority that it was his intention to make Swansea City and County Council one of the top performing local authorities in Britain. He has overseen the first phase of a plan to computerise public links with the authority, a move which led to a two-month strike by council IT workers.
The workers were concerned about their jobs being "outsourced" to the private sector and there were worries it might lead to other departments being outsourced to private companies.
But after certain assurances were given, a multi-million pound deal with private IT firm Capgemini is close to being signed.
Council IT workers will transfer to Capgemini under the deal, which could be signed at a cabinet meeting tomorrow after the general purposes panel has met.
The planning saga over the Thorogoods' garage began on December 14 last year when a site visit was made by councillors. Then the events unfolded as follows:
January 11, 2005 - planning permission is granted with conditions;
September - as a result of additional work to the garage, planners ask for a fresh application;
Letters are sent between Mr Thorogood and the planning department to clarify the issues.
October 18 - a fresh application goes to committee.
Rhossili Community Council and the Gower Society raise concerns but the committee resolves to approve the new application.
December - a complaint is lodged with the council by Rhossili Community Council, the Gower Society and neighbours.
December 20 - Mr Thorogood agrees to leave County Hall while the issue is looked at.
THE chief executive of one Wales' biggest local authorities could be facing suspension at a special meeting tomorrow.
Tim Thorogood, who is paid £120,000 a year at Swansea City and County Council, has been called before a hastily-convened panel of councillors.
It will examine complaints about the development of a barn-style garage at the chief executive's luxury home on Gower.
In a dramatic ending to the year for the council, Mr Thorogood was asked to leave his office at County Hall last week by another senior officer.
It was a routine procedure as the chief executive could not remain in charge of the authority investigating the planning application which he submitted.
The application was made jointly with his wife Alison.
The complaints, from the Gower Society, Rhossili Community Council and some Rhossili residents, centre on exactly what use the garage is to be put to.
From the outside a number of windows can be seen on the garage, at the rear of Mr Thorogood's house, Broad Park, which overlooks Rhossili Bay.
A senior member of the council said yesterday the general purposes panel has the power, if it was found necessary, to suspend the chief executive. An independent investigator would then be appointed to look into the planning row.
Mr Thorogood, whose hobbies including sailing and horse riding, joined the authority three years ago from Haringey Council in London where he was director of support services. His wife Alison now works for neighbouring Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council as a complaints officer and is a Swansea magistrate.
Mr Thorogood announced on joining the authority that it was his intention to make Swansea City and County Council one of the top performing local authorities in Britain. He has overseen the first phase of a plan to computerise public links with the authority, a move which led to a two-month strike by council IT workers.
The workers were concerned about their jobs being "outsourced" to the private sector and there were worries it might lead to other departments being outsourced to private companies.
But after certain assurances were given, a multi-million pound deal with private IT firm Capgemini is close to being signed.
Council IT workers will transfer to Capgemini under the deal, which could be signed at a cabinet meeting tomorrow after the general purposes panel has met.
The planning saga over the Thorogoods' garage began on December 14 last year when a site visit was made by councillors. Then the events unfolded as follows:
January 11, 2005 - planning permission is granted with conditions;
September - as a result of additional work to the garage, planners ask for a fresh application;
Letters are sent between Mr Thorogood and the planning department to clarify the issues.
October 18 - a fresh application goes to committee.
Rhossili Community Council and the Gower Society raise concerns but the committee resolves to approve the new application.
December - a complaint is lodged with the council by Rhossili Community Council, the Gower Society and neighbours.
December 20 - Mr Thorogood agrees to leave County Hall while the issue is looked at.
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