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.
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.
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