EX-CHIEF MADE TO WAIT OVER GARAGE VERDICT
South Wales Evening Post - 5 July 2006
The angry row over a garage owned by Swansea Council's former chief executive Tim Thorogood is to rumble on. A decision over the planning issue which cost him his £120,000-a-year job has been put off by councillors.
Members of the planning committee had been expected to approve his application for retrospective permission to convert the garage at his Rhossili home.
But at yesterday's meeting they decided to delay making a decision until after they have visited the site.
Mr Thorogood quit as Swansea Council's chief executive after details of the garage conversion were released.
Although the original plans for a detached garage at his luxury Broad Park home were approved, an official complaint was made when it was revealed that he had added a fitted kitchen to the garage without permission.
It also emerged that his wife Alison had sought advice about advertising a holiday home on the council's tourism website.
Mr Thorogood was suspended in December 2005, and quit his post on January 13, walking away with a £60,000 pay-off.
He has since taken a job with London-based thinktank the Local Government Information Unit.
Planning officers provoked an outcry last week when they recommended that Mr Thorogood be allowed to keep the controversial extended garage.
The only condition they wanted to impose was that it could not be used for commercial purposes.
Council officers have already visited the site but now councillors have decided they want to see the garage for themselves.
If they reject the application, Mr Thorogood will have to rip out the unauthorised living space.
The Gower Society, Swansea Civic Society and Rhossili Community Council all oppose garages being used for living accommodation.
A Gower Society spokesman said: "This application is particularly sensitive because of its nature and history.
"It is extremely important that no precedent is set by giving retrospective approval that might encourage others to circumvent the planning process and acceptable design in the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty."
The angry row over a garage owned by Swansea Council's former chief executive Tim Thorogood is to rumble on. A decision over the planning issue which cost him his £120,000-a-year job has been put off by councillors.
Members of the planning committee had been expected to approve his application for retrospective permission to convert the garage at his Rhossili home.
But at yesterday's meeting they decided to delay making a decision until after they have visited the site.
Mr Thorogood quit as Swansea Council's chief executive after details of the garage conversion were released.
Although the original plans for a detached garage at his luxury Broad Park home were approved, an official complaint was made when it was revealed that he had added a fitted kitchen to the garage without permission.
It also emerged that his wife Alison had sought advice about advertising a holiday home on the council's tourism website.
Mr Thorogood was suspended in December 2005, and quit his post on January 13, walking away with a £60,000 pay-off.
He has since taken a job with London-based thinktank the Local Government Information Unit.
Planning officers provoked an outcry last week when they recommended that Mr Thorogood be allowed to keep the controversial extended garage.
The only condition they wanted to impose was that it could not be used for commercial purposes.
Council officers have already visited the site but now councillors have decided they want to see the garage for themselves.
If they reject the application, Mr Thorogood will have to rip out the unauthorised living space.
The Gower Society, Swansea Civic Society and Rhossili Community Council all oppose garages being used for living accommodation.
A Gower Society spokesman said: "This application is particularly sensitive because of its nature and history.
"It is extremely important that no precedent is set by giving retrospective approval that might encourage others to circumvent the planning process and acceptable design in the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty."
posted by Commentator at 10:00 AM
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