LETTER OUTLINING COUNCIL CONCERNS WAS NOT POSTED
4 March 2006
Council leader Chris Holley persuaded a senior cabinet colleague not to send a letter outlining concerns about building work at the home of former chief executive Tim Thorogood, it has emerged. Mr Thorogood went on to leave before Christmas from his £120,000 a year post as details of a planning row came to light.
He was later suspended and left the council with a pay off worth £60,000.It has now emerged that cabinet member for environment, John Hague, drafted a letter to Mr Thorogood expressing concerns about the way planning applications had been handled by the former chief executive.
A leaked document, written by the council's monitoring officer, details the events and shows Councillor Hague had serious concerns months before an official inquiry was launched.The report said: "A letter was compiled from Councilor Hague to the chief executive expressing his concern over this matter.
"However, on returning to his office on October 21, Councilor Hague discussed the matter personally with Tim Thorogood.
"Councillor Hague advised him of his unhappiness with the circumstances, and he felt Tim Thorogood's actions in undertaking the works prior to approval had compromised the council's planning service.
"Councilor Hague advised him that he would be writing to him on this. Tim Thorogood stated that he would have to take advice if Hague sent the letter.
"Councillor Hague spoke to the leader, Councillor Chris Holley, later that evening and Councillor Hague was persuaded not to send the letter.
"Councillor Hague told a meeting of Swansea Council that he had seen the completed work at Mr Thorogood's home days after a retrospective planning application had been submitted.
He said he had dropped the letter because Councilor Holley had advised him the application had gone through the correct planning channels.
He said: "What I was upset about was that the work had already been carried out.
"I spoke to Tim Thorogood at length, then I spoke to the leader and he advised me that it had already gone through planning, and I took that advice."
Councillor Holley admitted the meeting with Councillor Hague took place, but defended his role in the matter, saying that until official complaints were received there was no issue.
"Yes, that meeting did take place. We discussed things that did go on, but that conversation was not relevant - it had been dealt with in a planning meeting," said Councillor Holley.
A planning request was put in by the former chief executive. On October 18 it was debated in public.
"No disciplinary issues were brought up, no human resources issues were brought up - nothing at all. It was a normal planning request," he added.
Council leader Chris Holley persuaded a senior cabinet colleague not to send a letter outlining concerns about building work at the home of former chief executive Tim Thorogood, it has emerged. Mr Thorogood went on to leave before Christmas from his £120,000 a year post as details of a planning row came to light.
He was later suspended and left the council with a pay off worth £60,000.It has now emerged that cabinet member for environment, John Hague, drafted a letter to Mr Thorogood expressing concerns about the way planning applications had been handled by the former chief executive.
A leaked document, written by the council's monitoring officer, details the events and shows Councillor Hague had serious concerns months before an official inquiry was launched.The report said: "A letter was compiled from Councilor Hague to the chief executive expressing his concern over this matter.
"However, on returning to his office on October 21, Councilor Hague discussed the matter personally with Tim Thorogood.
"Councillor Hague advised him of his unhappiness with the circumstances, and he felt Tim Thorogood's actions in undertaking the works prior to approval had compromised the council's planning service.
"Councilor Hague advised him that he would be writing to him on this. Tim Thorogood stated that he would have to take advice if Hague sent the letter.
"Councillor Hague spoke to the leader, Councillor Chris Holley, later that evening and Councillor Hague was persuaded not to send the letter.
"Councillor Hague told a meeting of Swansea Council that he had seen the completed work at Mr Thorogood's home days after a retrospective planning application had been submitted.
He said he had dropped the letter because Councilor Holley had advised him the application had gone through the correct planning channels.
He said: "What I was upset about was that the work had already been carried out.
"I spoke to Tim Thorogood at length, then I spoke to the leader and he advised me that it had already gone through planning, and I took that advice."
Councillor Holley admitted the meeting with Councillor Hague took place, but defended his role in the matter, saying that until official complaints were received there was no issue.
"Yes, that meeting did take place. We discussed things that did go on, but that conversation was not relevant - it had been dealt with in a planning meeting," said Councillor Holley.
A planning request was put in by the former chief executive. On October 18 it was debated in public.
"No disciplinary issues were brought up, no human resources issues were brought up - nothing at all. It was a normal planning request," he added.
posted by Commentator at 11:00 AM
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