RESOLVE THIS ROW QUICKLY

16 January 2006 - South Wales Evening Post

Perhaps it's down to the holiday season? Perhaps it's down to the complicated nature of the complaints? Whatever the reasons, the Tim Thorogood planning row is already a contender for running story of the year.

The Swansea Council boss has now been officially suspended on full pay while an official investigation is launched into allegations of planning irregularities at Mr Thorogood's home in Rhossili, Gower.

In the three weeks since the row broke, Mr Thorogood has been in a curious limbo - not suspended, but not in work either.

Whether he has been on annual leave or so-called gardening leave isn't entirely clear.

What is clear is that local authorities work differently to the way business works in the real world.

In industry, suspension would quickly follow any allegations. A speedy investigation would follow.

Speed has been sadly lacking in proceedings so far, but it is hoped that some pace will be injected by an independent investigation now. Swansea Council needs to resolve this matter quickly.

Council chief suspended in planning row

14 January 2006 - Western Mail

A £120,000-a-year council chief executive has been suspended on full pay over a planning row involving a garage at his luxury home.

After yesterday's decision an independent official now has two months to investigate the actions of Tim Thorogood, head of Swansea City and County Council.

The 45-year-old, who enjoys sailing and horse riding in his spare time, joined the authority three years ago from Haringey Council in London, promising to make it one of the top performing councils in Britain.

But just before Christmas Mr Thorogood, in charge of 11,000 council staff, was asked to leave his office at Swansea's County Hall by another senior officer.

He was informed the authority was investigating a "planning issue" regarding the barn- style garage at his home Broad Park, in the picturesque cliff-top village of Rhossili, Gower.

Mr Thorogood and his wife Alison, a magistrate who works as a corporate complaints officer for neighbouring Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council, had been granted planning permission for the garage in 2005.

But the council received complaints about building work at the property from the Gower Society, Rhossili Community Council and local residents.

It is understood the planning issue relates to what uses the garage, which has windows and other fittings, could be put to.

Mr Thorogood was asked to leave his desk voluntarily because he could not remain in charge of the authority investigating his case.

He was called before the general purposes committee which deals with disciplinary matters earlier this week to explain matters and the issue was adjourned to yesterday.

At yesterday's meeting, three councillors making up the council's general purposes committee, decided Mr Thorogood had a case to answer and suspended him.

An independent investigating officer, probably a lawyer or human resources specialist, will be appointed next week to look into the matter.

Swansea City and County Council said in a statement yesterday, "The independent investigator will be appointed at the earliest opportunity and a report will be brought to the authority at a later date."

Mr Thorogood is the council's second senior officer to be suspended on full pay.

Council chief executive suspended

13 January 2006 – BBC Wales Website

Councillors in Swansea have suspended their own chief executive while he is investigated over a planning issue at his Gower home.

Tim Thorogood has been off work since questions were raised in December over work done to his house near Rhossili.

The investigation will focus on an application made for a detached garage and workshop at his property.

The authority's general purposes panel said on Friday he would be suspended until the investigation was completed.

In a statement the authority said: "The panel decided that there is a case to answer and suspended Mr Thorogood, pending a full investigation to be carried out by a designated independent person, as legally required.

"The independent investigator will be appointed at the earliest opportunity and a report will be brought to the authority at a later date."

Mr Thorogood, who took up the £120,000-a-year post three years ago, was given approval for the garage retrospectively.

Mr Thorogood's representative said he was disappointed by the decision.
He acknowledged some minor breaches of planning permission, which he said had now been rectified.

Bu he denied that there had been any misconduct.

COUNCIL DECISION ON BOSS DELAYED

10 January 2006 - Evening Post

Swansea Council boss Tim Thorogood will have to wait until the end of the week to find out if he is to be suspended. The chief executive is at the centre of a planning probe after complaints about a garage built at his Rhossili home.

A panel of councillors met yesterday to decide whether there was a case to answer and whether or not Mr Thorogood should be suspended while an investigation is carried out.

But the meeting ran longer than expected and had to be stopped without a decision being reached because Mr Thorogood's representative was due elsewhere, according to a source at County Hall.

She said: "Everyone had expected there to be some progress by the end of the day, but we will have to wait until Friday for any news."

Mr Thorogood is understood to be on "gardening leave" until the panel of three councillors reaches a decision on the claims which focus on a planning application for a garage at his home.

A spokesman for Swansea Council said: "Swansea Council's General Purposes Panel met yesterday to consider a planning issue at the home of chief executive, Tim Thorogood.

"The meeting has now been adjourned until 10am this Friday."

Council planning row panel meets

10 January 2006 - Western Mail

A £120,000-a-year council boss held talks for four hours with senior councillors yesterday over a controversial planning application involving his luxury home.

The three councillor-strong general purposes panel, which has the power to suspend Swansea City and County Council's chief executive Tim Thorogood, is examining complaints about a garage the 46-year-old and his wife Alison first applied for in 2004.

The meeting was adjourned until Friday.

After complaints from the Gower Society, Rhossili Community Council and local residents, Mr Thorogood, in charge of 11,000 council staff in Swansea, was asked by senior colleagues to leave his office on December 20.

It was a routine request under the circumstances because Mr Thorogood could not remain in charge of the authority investigating his own planning application.

The authority has issued a statement saying "there is an issue" surrounding the application made by Mr Thorogood and his wife, a magistrate who works as a corporate complaints officer for neighbouring Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council.

Council records indicate the Thorogoods applied for planning permission to build a detached garage and workshop at their Rhossili Bay home, Broad Park, in September 2004.

The council made it clear Mr Thorogood has not been suspended but is subject to a "formal process" in respect of the planning matter.