PAIR HIT BACK AT 'FAILING' CLAIM

21 June 2006

Two former senior council officers have hit back at claims by Swansea's former chief executive that the county was a "failing organisation" when he arrived. John Spence, the council's former acting chief executive, and Julie James, a former monitoring officer, have written a joint letter complaining about Tim Thorogood's description of the council.

Mr Thorogood made the comments in the local government magazine, Municipal Journal (MJ).Mr Spence and Miss James are not the first senior figures from Swansea Council to question Mr Thorogood's comments. Councillors were also said to be angry at the description.

Mr Thorogood, who left Swansea Council over a planning row, is set to join a local government think tank as its £90,000-a-year chief executive.

A decision on whether he will be allowed to keep changes made to a garage at his Rhossili home is expected in the next few weeks. Changes, including a kitchen area, were made without planning permission.

Now Mr Spence and Miss James have had their say.

Their letter to MJ said: "It is incorrect to claim when Tim Thorogood was appointed he was joining a failing organisation."

The pair said work had been underway for many years before Mr Thorogood joined the council, and independent reviews showed the council was performing well.

"At the time of Tim's arrival as chief executive the fruits of several years' efforts by political leaders and former chief executive Viv Sugar were becoming evident through a number of regeneration projects.

"The use of the phrase failing organisation is emotive and does a disservice to the many hard-working, committed individuals who have been associated with a number of considerable successes in Wales's second city."

DECISION EXPECTED ON EX-CHIEF'S HOME

19 June 2006

Controverisal former Swansea Council boss Tim Thorogood could find out next month if he has to rip out upgrades to his luxury Rhossili home. An end to the seven-month public row over a development at his home could finally be in sight.

A decision is expected on whether he can keep work done to his home.

Mr Thorogood has been at the centre of a planning row since last December.

It cost him his £120,000 job with Swansea Council, and it could see him have to undo work at his luxury Broad Park home.

He ran into trouble when he and his JP wife Alison applied for, and received, permission for a new garage in December 2004.In September last year, Mr Thorogood was asked to make a fresh application because of concerns about the final appearance of the garage which had more windows than specified in the original plans.

The city's planning committee approved the scheme, but official complaints were made over claims the property featured a kitchen, sleeping accommodation and en-suite bathroom facilities.

Mr Thorogood was suspended and investigated over the row before agreeing a £60,000 deal with Swansea Council to walk away.

He has since submitted an application for retrospective planning permission for the garage and a decision is expected soon.If refused, he could be told to undo all the work.

A spokesman for Swansea Council said: "Planning officers are preparing a report which will go to the area two planning committee in due course."