PRECEDENT IS SHAMEFUL

South Wales Evening Post - 8 August 2006

For years, Wales and its people have been striving for their own identity, with voice and independence in Europe. Wales has its official language and is able to manage its own affairs through the Assembly. Has no-one told the councillors of Swansea?

Along comes Tim Thorogood, who I believe is English, and in a cavalier fashion tells Swansea Council what he wants. Immediately the Welsh inferiority complex kicks in, master and man take over. With much doffing of cloth caps and tugging of forelock, the councillors give Mr Thorogood what he wants.

How shameful! A precedent has now been set. Soon Gower will be covered with three-bed stables and four-bed barns.

C E V Gardener, Mayals, Swansea

GARAGE ROW IS DISGRACE

South Wales Evening Post - 7 August 2006

Having followed your reporting of events, re the "Thorogood affair", and not hearing or reading anything to the contrary, I am beginning to think that my parents did me no favours by bringing me up to respect "honesty and integrity'' and all the other virtues they set so much store by.

Worse still I feel that by trying to bring my children and grandchildren up to respect these same values I am doing them a disservice, and frankly this sickens me.

This affair stinks, he obviously thinks he is above the rules, and honesty and integrity are the domain of suckers like us ratepayers who paid his wages.

Councillors went by bus to examine the interior of the garage only to find it closed. If it was so important to see the interior, why was a vote taken having failed in this respect? No wonder our council tax is so high - this was pure farce.

According to your reporter, (Post, July 26) the councillors who voted this planning application through, voted not on the merits of the case, but on the assumption of an official, that costs may or may not be incurred if an appeal was made.

The only ones to come out of this affair with any credibility are the people of Gower who brought up their concerns of double standards being applied to Thorogood re the planning rules.

I hope they will take their campaign further, and involve the right people who will be able to overturn this disgraceful decision.

E John, Llansamlet, Swansea

WE NEED INQUIRY

South Wales Evening Post - 7 August 2006

I feel compelled to write of my disgust at the retrospective planning permission allowed at the home of former chief executive Tim Thorogood and Neath and Port Talbot council complaints officer and JP Mrs Thorogood. They appear to have shown contempt and arrogance and look like they feel they are above the rules and regulations we all have to abide by.

Mr and Mrs Thorogood should hang their heads in shame, both being employed as public servants in positions of trust.

The people of Swansea should now demand an independent, public inquiry over the working practices of the planning department and the decision-making powers of the council's planning committee, which appears to be farcical.

Taxpayers have, once again, been let down by Swansea Council.

In your Opinion column (Post, July 26) you ask: "Will it now be end of the matter?" I sincerely hope not!

Mrs R Osborne, Waungron Road, Clydach

WRISTS SLAP, CASH BOOST

South Wales Evening Post - 31 July 2006

I am sure I wasn't the only person who was holding my breath while awaiting the planning decision by Swansea Council with regards former chief executive Tim Thorogood's home. Once again Swansea Council has proved what a cowardly council they are, and how they have failed the people of Swansea.

We can possibly accept the ordinary person to be ignorant of planning laws.But here we have the former chief executive of Swansea Council showing what looks like sheer arrogance and contempt for not only the council, for whom he was employed, at a cost of £120,000 a year, but the people of Swansea.

Here is a person who had been informed by the council planning department that any additional changes would require further planning permission, did he listen to them?

Some time later, Mr Thorogood's wife apparently requested Swansea Council tourism chiefs about having the garage inspected for use as a holiday flat. Surely this should have rung a bell within the council as to the true reasons for the building work being carried out.

But no, what takes place is a farce. First Mr Thorogood is suspended on full pay, then while he is having a nice holiday at the expense of Swansea taxpayers, he decides to quit his job and walk away, no doubt with a big smile on his face and £60,000 in his pocket. Why? Because the council decide it is not in the interest of the people of Swansea to pursue the matter any further.

This is the same council which a few weeks back said it was taking a member of the public to court for allegedly placing the wrong recycling material in his rubbish. This could result in a possible £1,000 fine.

Why is it that their rules are not consistent?Which brings us to the closing of Swansea Leisure Centre in 2003. Here again we have a situation where the then director of regeneration Mr David Evans, was on suspension for 13 months during the investigation into the reasons for the closure of the leisure centre, and again Swansea Council decided it would not be in the interest of the council or the people of Swansea to pursue the matter any further.

Therefore, we must come to the conclusion that if you are employed by Swansea Council and break any rules laid down by them, you stand a very good chance of having your wrists slapped and a lump sum of money dropped into your pocket and told to go away.

That is, of course, if they decided it would be in the interest of the council or the people of Swansea to pursue the matter any further.

J C Lewis, Heol Illtyd, Caewern, Neath

WAS IT WORTH IT?

South Wales Evening Post - 26 July 2006 - Editorial

Swansea Council's former chief executive, Tim Thorogood, has received retrospective planning permission for his one-bedroom garage. There was a huge fuss when he strayed from his original plans. There was such a fuss that the highest paid public servant in Wales's second city ended up leaving his job.

With planning permission granted and the extension now "legal" will that be an end to the matter?

FORMER CHIEF KEEPS GARAGE EXTENSION

South Wales Evening Post - 26 July 2006

Swansea Council's former top boss is being allowed to keep his one-bedroom garage at his luxury Gower home after a planning wrangle was yesterday finally settled. Councillors voted 12 to seven to grant it retrospective planning permission despite claims it could open the floodgates to similar applications from other homeowners in the area.

Tim Thorogood has been told that his garage which now incorporates a shower, toilet and first-floor living space, including a bedroom, can stay despite straying from the original plans submitted while he was still head of Swansea Council.

It is the third time Mr Thorogood has asked for planning permission for the garage after unauthorised changes on two occasions.The decision, taken at a Swansea Council planning meeting, was immediately slammed by those who voted against it. It came after councillors were advised by officials to pass the application or risk a costly appeal to the Assembly.

However, a number of councillors called for Mr Thorogood to be forced to change the garage.Councilor Margaret Smith said the result signalled open season for building on Gower while Labour leader David Phillips said: "I am amazed, but not surprised by the decision to allow it."The councillors are scared of it going to appeal. But as an authority we gave permission for one thing and that is what we should allow."

The former chief executive originally asked for permission to build a garage and workshop.

However, once permission was granted he decided that he wanted storage space on the first floor for horse feed and a ground floor toilet.

Council planners told him that any additional changes would require further planning permission.

Mr Thorogood did not wait for permission to be granted before giving builders the go-ahead.

At the time he was reminded that any building works should only be carried out after permission was first granted. But a little over three months after the advice Mr Thorogood's wife Alison asked Swansea Council tourism chiefs about having the garage inspected for use as a holiday let.

Four days later an official complaint was made and stunned planning inspectors later discovered a kitchen, laminate flooring on the first floor "storage area", a sleeping room and shower had been included.

Yesterday's vote means Mr Thorogood will be allowed to keep all the changes.

However, he will have to change the colour of all the windows in his main house.And he was told the garage can only be used as ancillary accommodation to his six bedroom home and not as a holiday let.

Councillor Phillips said he should have been forced to adhere to the original plans."The applicant has shown contempt upon contempt for the planning process. By a process of attrition and small steps he has got exactly what he wanted," he said.

Mr Thorogood quit his £120,000-a-year job with the council in January after councillors decided he had a case to answer over his handling of the planning applications. He was given a £60,000 pay-off.

Councilor Margaret Smith, who represents Pennard, said people living in the area would now be tempted to follow suit."People have been coming to me saying this is one step too far," she said.

"They are thinking that he has been rewarded for doing wrong when they would have been told to remove it."

FIRST LOOK AT THAT GOWER EXTENSION

South Wales Evening Post - 12 July 2006

The most famous garage on Gower has had its first official visitors. However, the group who turned up to see former council top boss Tim Thorogood's extravagant garage appeared to be a little disappointed by the experience.

Seven months after hitting the headlines, a bus pulled up outside the former chief executive's two-storey garage in Rhossili yesterday afternoon.

However, instead of curious holidaymakers looking to have their picture taken outside Gower's most well-known garage, the bus was full of Swansea councillors.

Around a dozen members of the authority's area two planning committee wanted to see for themselves exactly how the garage has changed from the original plans that were submitted in September, 2004. A year later Mr Thorogood was asked to submit a second set of plans.

Both were approved, but new changes mean a third application is now being considered.The Gower Society lodged an official complaint about the garage in December last year.

It also commented on the latest application, saying: "The conversion to self-contained living accommodation, under any circumstances, must not be allowed either now or in the future."

Mr Thorogood, who quit his £120,000-a-year chief executive post in January, was not on hand to give a guided tour of the garage.

Instead councillors could only view the changes from the outside. Although none would speak officially, many were disappointed not be able to see the internal highlights of the conversion - including the sleeping area, the shower and toilet that have been added to the garage. It is not known what has happened to a kitchen area that was noted by planning inspector Ian Davies when he visited the property last December.

Although Mr Thorogood is now seeking approval for a third application, it does not include any mention of the garage's kitchen.

During building work on the garage Mr Thorogood's wife Alison, who works as a senior officer for Neath Port Talbot Council, made numerous inquiries about getting the garage listed on Swansea Council's tourism website.

However, the couple were keen for it to be used as a holiday home rather than a sightseeing destination.Councillors are expected to vote on the issue later this summer.

Following the visit Gower Councillor Richard Lewis spoke out against the Swansea planners' decision to recommend that the application be approved.

He said: "If this is agreed by my colleagues it will be a disaster for Swansea Council, because everyone is watching.

"This is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. We are celebrating its 50th anniversary and last week we had Prince Charles down here.

"I came for his visit and all the villagers were here too asking me what the council is going to do about Mr Thorogood's bungalow. If it is agreed it will make a mockery of the planning rules.

"A neighbour has had his garage extension refused, the coastguard was not allowed to build a small house.

"If this is allowed to stay there will be a lot of people saying 'what about my garage?

'"It could be the start of the rape of Gower."

THOROGOOD GARAGE: IT'S DECISION TIME

South Wales Evening Post - 10 July 2006

It is D-day for Swansea's most infamous garage extension. A date has been picked for the planning visit to the home improvement which cost Tim Thorogood his £120,000-a-year job.

Members of the council's planning committee will visit the Rhossili home of the former chief executive tomorrow to decide the fate of the garage.

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 over a fitted kitchen added without permission.

It also emerged Mr Thorogood's wife, Alison, had sought advice about advertising a holiday home on the council's tourism website.

Mr Thorogood was suspended in December last year and an inquiry was launched. He quit his post on January 13, walking away with a £60,000 deal. Planning officials controversially recommended to councillors that they accept his application for retrospective permission for the work, but members of the committee voted to hold a site visit instead.

If, after seeing the development, they decide to refuse the application, the unauthorised improvements, including a fitted kitchen, will have to be ripped out.

Their decision to take a trip to Rhossili has been criticised by Mynyddbach councillor Ray Welsby.

Councillor Welsby accused the committee of "wasting council taxpayers money."

He claimed the planning committee was "making a mockery of the people of Swansea" and he called for the converted garage to be knocked down.

He said: "I think if he gets the application passed then people at the top of the council should go.

"The garage should be taken down."

Members of the committee cannot comment on individual cases, but deputy council leader Gerald Clement defended their work and accused the councillor of trying to "slur" colleagues.

He said: "I have got every confidence that the people who are sitting and voting on planning will vote one way or another, quite dispassionately, on the planning merits."

For Ray Welsby to suggest otherwise, is, quite frankly, a nonsense and it is a slur on the integrity of the people of all parties."

HOW MUCH MORE TIME WILL IT TAKE?

Evening Post editorial - 5 July 2006

It's the garage with a kitchen that cost the city's chief executive his job and goodness knows how many valuable hours of council time. Yet Swansea's most talked-about planning issue has still not been resolved.

Last week planning officers recommended that Mr Thorogood be given retrospective permission provided the garage was not used for commercial purposes.

But yesterday, members of the planning committee refused to rubber stamp the recommendations and instead voted to see the garage for themselves first.

Whatever they decide will have a knock-on effect on many other Gower planning applications so it is important that they get it right - and quickly.

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."

In search of the right balance

4 July 2006 - The Times

Tim Thorogood, the new chief executive of the Local Government Information Unit, tells Carly Chynoweth how his work in Wales will help him to deal with the devolution agenda

TIM THOROGOOD is barely through the froth on his cappuccino before he starts talking devolution. As the incoming chief executive of the Local Government Information Unit (LGiU) it is, admittedly, his job to get excited about such things. It’s not the only thing that he enjoys talking about — he is an enthusiastic proponent of getting out and about in the countryside, while the tan he displays is explained when he mentions his love of sailing — but with the future of local government squarely on Whitehall’s agenda, devolution is the order of the day.

Speaking to Public Agenda just before officially taking on the job, he says that he is keen to bring his Welsh council experience to the debate. “I argue that Wales has demonstrated the success of devolution, of local decision-making, and if that works for Wales it works for the next size down too.”

He praises the country’s approach to local authority performance management for its flexibility and the interactivity it allows between various layers of government. “It’s not the straitjacket of comprehensive performance assessment that we have here in England. In Swansea we could see the benefit of that.”

But Thorogood isn’t satisfied with simply making an argument. “The real challenge is the solution. How do we find an accommodation, a balance between national and local government? Where the LGiU comes in is in finding a practical and workable solution.”

Will it be cracked in the White Paper? “I’m sure that Phil Woolas (Minister for Local Government) will have given it a lot of thought but the answer lies with people in local government and the supporters of local government themselves coming up with solutions.”

This is something of a change of focus for the LGiU, which has already started moving towards the centre ground and away from its left-wing campaigning background.

“I want to see think-tanks (generally) being not just critical but coming up with practical, workable solutions. I don’t think that it’s right for us just to criticise.”

On a personal level he has plenty of experience of being on the receiving end of criticism. A planning dispute over what should have been a straightforward rebuilding and improvement of the garage at his home in Rhossili led to an embarrassing public mess, a flurry of bad media and Thorogood’s suspension from his job while the situation was investigated. He resigned less than a month later; the council’s leader praised his contribution to the city and wished him “every success in the future”.

However, the planning issue has not yet been resolved — the final decision is likely to be made today. Planning officers have recommended that the building be approved (see www.swansea.gov.uk) but if it is refused Thorogood may have to demolish it.

Beyond the building’s fate there is the possibility that fallout from the dispute could affect him in his new job. Thorogood is confident that it won’t. “To be honest, the overwhelming response that I have had is that these things happen.”

A pragmatic bent, evident in this answer, is one of the characteristics that Thorogood believes suits him for his new role at the LGiU, which he officially began yesterday. He sees his job as taking the suggestions provided by the think-tank’s members and turning them into practical answers.

“I am concerned not just with coming up with ideas but with making sure that things are constructive and can make a difference,” he says. “The LGiU’s priority is to strengthen local government to the benefit of all political parties. That’s where I’ve taken it on.”

Read more about the LGiU’s Making Local Democracy Work campaign at www.lgiu.org.uk

TIM THOROGOOD FACT FILE

Born: May 15, 1962, in Barbados
Career: Began as a teacher; moved into education administration then strategic services. CEO of Swansea Council 2003-06; became CEO of the LGiU this month.

He says: “The only answer to improving the British economy (and) to bringing government closer to the people is devolution to the very lowest level.”

Little-known fact: “Until I went to boarding school at 10 I lived all over the world.” His favourite place was the Falkland Islands: “It is the most interesting place to live if you like sailing, the outdoors and wildlife. I find places like that more interesting than urban areas.”

Advice to approve 'garage' stirs council row

4 July 2006 - Western Mail

THE furious row over a garage which cost a council chief executive his £120,000-a-year job will flare again today.

And despite the furore which surrounded 47-year-old Tim Thorogood's "amendments" to the garage at the back of his luxury Gower home, planning officers on Swansea Council say the building should remain as it is.

The row began last year when Swansea Council received complaints that a toilet, shower, velux windows and other improvements had been made to the building at Mr Thorogood's home, Broad Park, overlooking picturesque Rhossili Bay.

But the building only had permission for use as a garage and tack room.

The complaints led to the head of the council's 12,000 workforce being escorted from his County Hall office just before Christmas.

And in January he negotiated an exit settlement - thought to be worth £60,000 - with the council which gave him a good reference.

He now works for the Local Government Information Unit in London and a new Swansea Council Chief executive has been appointed on a salary of £150,000 a year. He is Gloucester City Council's Paul Smith.

But despite Mr Thorogood's departure, it still meant the authority had to deal with the thorny issue of the garage.

The council's Area 2 Development Control Committee will discuss its future in a meeting today.
Mr Thorogood and his wife Alison, a complaints officer with Neath Port Talbot Council, have applied to the committee for retention of the garage incorporating the toilet, shower room, residential accommodation in the roof void and additional windows.

Planning officers have recommend approval on the grounds that while "modifications were not in accordance with approved plans" in an overall sense they would not have an unacceptable adverse effect on neighbours' amenities.

In a report to be considered by the committee today however the Gower Society says, "The council must be as strict as possible in making its decision.

"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 Gower Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

"When we wrote to the council in September 2005 we asked that a condition be imposed on this building such that the garage may be used only as a garage and no use should be made for residential purposes.

"Such a condition has already been imposed by this council, on other large and potentially inhabitable garages in the AONB area."

The Swansea Civic Society says in the report, "We are very concerned about the application. What was supposed to be a garage and tack room has become a residential unit and to permit this would reflect very badly on the planning department.

"The original plans must be adhered to because to deviate would show a weakened planning department and send out entirely the wrong signal."

In a letter of objection, a Rhossili resident said, "My concern is that other properties have been forced by the planning authority to demolish buildings as they are slightly out of compliance.

"If retrospective planning is given it will make a mockery of these previous decisions and set a precedent."

Planning officers say in the report however that if the garage was to be used for commercial purposes such as a holiday let further planning permission would be required.

WHY THE FUSS?

Evening Post editorial - 3 July 2006

If former Swansea Council chief executive Tim Thorogood is indeed going to receive retrospective planning permission for his controversial garage extension, it does beg the question what all the fuss has been about. How did Wales's second city manage to lose its top public servant like this?

WHY THE FUSS?

Evening Post editorial - 1 July 2006

If former Swansea Council chief executive Tim Thorogood is indeed going to receive retrospective planning permission for his controversial garage extension, it does beg the question what all the fuss has been about. How did Wales's second city manage to lose its top public servant like this?

EX-CHIEF'S GARAGE SET FOR APPROVAL

1 July 2006

Former Swansea Council boss Tim Thorogood will probably be allowed to keep the converted garage at his Rhossili home, it has emerged.

Tim Thorogood quit his £120,000-a-year post as Swansea Council's chief executive after details of the garage conversion were released.

An official complaint was made when it emerged that Mr Thorogood had added living space to the garage without permission. But he now looks set to be granted retrospective permission, meaning he will be able to keep it.

The only condition is that it is not used for commercial purposes. Planners are recommending councillors grant permission for the changes to remain when they meet next week.

The recommendation has been met with disbelief by Swansea Civic Society.

The Gower Society, the civic society and Rhossili Community Council all raised objections to the use of the garage for living accommodation.

Eirwen Harry of Swansea Civic Society said: "We would urge councillors to reject this application.

"We objected to it before and feel that if it is agreed it sets a precedent for other people to do the same."

The Gower Society 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."

Councillors who are on the planning committee cannot comment until a decision has been made.
However, Plaid leader Darren Price and ward member Richard Lewis cannot attend next Tuesday's vote and have spoken out.

Councillor Lewis said: "I am absolutely flabbergasted by the recommendation.

"If it is approved by the councillors at Tuesday's meeting then it will set a dreadful precedent for the area.

"It will be a disaster for Gower." Councillor Price said: "It is somewhat bizarre that retrospective planning approval is due to be given to a property extension that caused such political controversy back in December of last year.

"Given the officer's recommendation to this week's Area Two Development control committee it is disappointing in the sense that had the former chief executive simply followed the set procedures then he may well still be in post and we could have avoided a costly re-appointment process and could also have avoided the damaging publicity that followed."


THOROGOOD SAGA SO FAR:

September 3, 2004 - Chief executive Tim Thorogood submits a planning application for a detached garage and workshop and informs department heads.

January 26, 2005 - Permission is granted.August 17, 2005 - He seeks advice about making further changes and is told to submit a fresh application. He does not speak to heads of department.

September 8, 2005 - A second application is submitted but he does not inform department heads. Work is carried out before the application is heard by councillors.

October 18, 2005 - The application is approved, but Rhossili Community Council members point out they would have expected work to be carried out after permission was granted. The Gower Society raised questions about the size and design of the garage and sought assurances it would not be used for residential purposes.

October 20-21, 2005 - Councillor Hague drafts a letter to the chief executive but does not send it. Head of planning Reena Owen tells Mr Thorogood it would have been preferable for him to wait for permission.

November 29, 2005 - Alison Thorogood, Mr Thorogood's wife, asks for advice about advertising a holiday home on the council's tourism website.

December 2, 2005 - An official complaint is lodged alleging planning rules had been broken.

December 5, 2005 - Mr Thorogood is told of the complaint and that the planning department investigation would be carried out. As a result of that inquiry, it was found that a fitted kitchen had been added to the garage and that planning rules had been breached.

December 20, 2005 - Mr Thorogood is suspended, pending an internal inquiry.

January 13, 2006 - His resignation is accepted after a review panel decides Mr Thorogood has a case to answer.

July 2006 - Council officers recommend Mr Thorogood is allowed to keep his converted garage and other changes to his house.

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."

EX-COUNCIL CHIEF'S CLAIMS SPARK FRESH CONTROVERSY IN CITY

29 May 2006

The former top boss at Swansea Council is continuing to cause controversy almost six months after quitting his £120,000-a-year post. Tim Thorogood (pictured) walked away from the post in January with a pay-off worth £60,000 after councillors agreed to investigate a breach of planning rules at his Rhossili home.

He has now angered local councillors after describing the authority as failing.

Mr Thorogood is set to join London-based thinktank the Local Government Information Unit this summer and has given a number of interviews to London-based magazines.

In one he claimed that the planning breaches at his home amounted to nothing more than a few extra windows.Planning officers at Swansea Council viewed the garage and found he had added a kitchen without permission.

It was also discovered that his wife was looking into the possibility of advertising the garage as a holiday home on Swansea Council's tourism website.

Councillors are understood to be angry that he has told the Municipal Journal that he was recruited by a failing authority.

When he arrived in 2003 the council was officially classed as a middle-ranking authority.

Despite the fact that Swansea was not a failing authority Mr Thorogood told the Municipal Journal: "The remit I had at Swansea was to turn a failing organisation into one which was successful.

"My other task was to revitalise regeneration of the city."

Councillors are also unhappy about claims in the article that one of Mr Thorogood's achievements while in Swansea was the Liberty Stadium, despite the fact that work on the ground began two years before he took on his role.

When he left the post, he negotiated a generous package and is understood to have agreed a deal with the council to not discuss the matter in public.

One Swansea councillor, who didn't want to be identified, said: "There are a lot of people unhappy with his comments regarding Swansea in recent interviews.

"Apparently some top-level Swansea council officers have written letters to the magazines expressing their disappointment."

POLITICIANS AND POST BLAMED FOR JOB QUIT DECISION

19 May 2006

Swansea Council's former top boss has blamed politicians and the Evening Post for his sudden departure from his £120,000-a-year job. Tim Thorogood quit his role as chief executive in January after councillors decided he did have a case to answer in a planning row at his Rhossili home.

Mr Thorogood has now taken a £30,000 pay cut to join the Local Government Information Unit as its chief executive.

In an interview for a local government magazine, Mr Thorogood explains for the first time his reasons for leaving Swansea.

In the interview he claims that he was picked on because of his position and said the planning breaches on his garage amounted to nothing more than a few extra panes of glass.

He said: "It's true that in the context of a couple of windows, it didn't [have planning permission]. For any other person it wouldn't have created an issue."

Mr Thorogood and his wife Alison, a senior planning officer with Neath Port Talbot Council, applied for permission to upgrade their garage with a workshop in September 2004.

Following the start of work, Mr Thorogood asked about changing the plans and was told he had to submit a revised application.

However, a complaint was made that the work being carried out was going far beyond what had been agreed, so the council's own planning department launched an investigation in December 2005.

As well as discovering the extra windows, it was also found that a kitchen had been built in the garage. Throughout the process, Mrs Thorogood had been looking into the possibility of renting out the garage as a holiday home and had even inquired about advertising on the council's tourism website.

In the article for Local Government Chronicle magazine, Mr Thorogood said he decided to leave his job because he would not have been able to carry on with his programme of change for the city, which included the controversial eGovernment project, Service@Swansea.

Mr Thorogood said: "The political circumstances of the council, and inevitably the way in which politicians and the local media behaved in that situation, led one to think that, given the problem in planning, it wasn't practical for me to lead a highly visible change programme in that council."

ONLY ONE TO BLAME FOR FALL

19 May 2006 - Editorial Opinion

Extraordinary. That is the only word to describe Tim Thorogood's comments on his departure from the top job at Swansea Council as reported in the Local Government Chronicle. Mr Thorogood has no one to blame for his fall from grace as chief executive except himself.

Converting a garage in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty into a holiday home can in no way be described as just "a few extra panes of glass".

In one aspect, however, Mr Thorogood is perfectly correct. It would not have created such an issue if the householder had been anyone else.

That is not because the planning breaches were not of importance - to imply such a thing displays a lack of respect for the Gower AONB.

It is because council taxpayers have a right to expect impeccable judgement from high-ranking (and highly paid) planning authority executives in matters involving planning permission.

In the circumstances the Evening Post behaved entirely appropriately.

In fact, the reason it would not have been practical for him to lead a "highly visible change programme" was that many council taxpayers had lost confidence in him.

NEW ROLE FOR EX-CHIEF

4 May 2006

Swansea Council's former top boss has taken a £30,000 pay cut to take a role as head of a local council policy advice unit, it has emerged. Mr Thorogood walked away from his £120,000-a-year chief executive's post at Swansea Council after councillors decided to hold a full investigation into alleged planning breaches at his Rhossili home.

It has now been revealed Mr Thorogood will be taking the reins at the influential Local Government Information Unit (LGIU) - a think-tank that advises local authorities and lobbies on their behalf.Swansea Council is a registered member of the LGIU.

Mr Thorogood will join as the unit's chief executive later this summer.

He quit Swansea Council in January after being suspended from his chief executive's post in a row over a garage built at his home.

He was forced to apply for retrospective planning permission after changing the original design. It was then alleged that further changes were made and following an official complaint he was suspended.

A planned internal inquiry into his role in the matter was dropped when he left the council. In an interview for the LGIU's website, Mr Thorogood says he is looking forward to taking over from Dennis Reed when he retires.

Mr Thorogood said: "I am delighted to have been appointed the new chief executive of the LGIU, in what is both an exciting time for local government and for the unit.

"The LGIU has a strong track record of influencing policy in favour of local democratic bodies and, for me, this is an opportunity to bring my frontline experience to bear on national policy debates."

Mr Thorogood, who was given a package worth £60,000 when he left Swansea Council, is expected to pick up around £90,000 a year from the London-based LGIU.

Dave Wilcox, chairman of the LGIU, said: "Tim Thorogood is an exciting choice for the unit, chosen from a strong field of candidates."His experience and track record of success will help the LGIU continue to provide highly valued services to local authorities of all types and political persuasions.

"We are all looking forward to working with Tim and supporting him as he steers the organisation into its next phase of development."

FORMER COUNCIL BOSS LODGES GARAGE PLANS

6 April 2006

Former Swansea Council boss Tim Thorogood is fighting to keep the garage that cost him his job, the Post can exclusively reveal. The ex-chief executive for Swansea Council is applying for retrospective planning permission for the garage he built at his Broad Park home.

Mr Thorogood had to leave his £120,000-a-year post after becoming embroiled in a row over the development.

He and his wife Alison were given planning permission for the new building at his luxury Broad Park home in Rhossili back in January 2005.

He later applied for and won retrospective permission after complaints about the size of the building.

But a formal investigation was launched last year after further allegations claiming the workshop was being used as accommodation with kitchen and sleeping facilities, complete with ensuite bathroom.

It also came to light that Mrs Thorogood, who works for Neath Port Talbot Council, had been making enquiries about advertising a holiday home on the council's tourism website.

After an extensive investigation, Mr Thorogood handed in his resignation in February and stayed out of the spotlight, refusing to answer any questions on the matter.However, the Evening Post has discovered that Mr Thorogood will fight to keep the two-storey garage that lead to him standing down.

He submitted new plans on March 21 to Swansea Council to retain the existing building.Council officials have said that they will be treating the matter like any other planning application.

A spokesman said: "We are unable to comment on the matter for the time being. The planning application is still in the early stages at present."Although no final date for a decision is set, it is expected that the application will go before committee members in late April.

Gower Society spokesman Malcolm Ridge said: "The garage that he has built, along with the facilities it holds, will add a considerable sum to the value of his home.

"He must be made accountable for his actions. He should be made to revert the garage to the original plans that were passed.

"If this is allowed, it would set a terrible example to others."

That interview

Edited transcript - interview of Chris Holley by Simon Morris (BBC Wales)
Cross talk and repetition have been removed

David Williams (presenter): “Simon Morris started by asking him why he persuaded the councillor responsible for planning, john Hague, not to send his letter to the chief executive last October.”

CH: “This planning consent went through the planning committee and had that retrospective planning consent so the issue was dealt with. The letter that you comment about when it was discussed with myself and John Hague, I suggested to him that the issue had been dealt with and it was unwise …

SM: “In what sense had it been dealt with? The planning issue had been dealt with but the ethical issue had not.”

CH: “Well I’m here to discuss the planning issue.”

SM: “No, no, it’s the ethical issue. I’m not talking to you as a planning officer, but as the leader of the council, the only man on the council senior to the chief executive who is responsible for ensuring ethics and probity. We’ve got the situation of the chief executive regarded potentially guilty of gross misconduct and yet you did nothing about it.”

CH: “Let’s look at it this way. No-one in October at officer level was responsible, the monitoring officer, none of them brought the issue up.”

SM: “Councillor Hague did, a member of your own Cabinet, and Reena Owen did, also the following week, and discussed the matter personally with Tim Thorogood and expressed her concerns.”

CH: “I don’t know what Reena Owen discussed with the chief executive, all I can tell you …

SM: “You just told me officers weren’t concerned and I’m telling you that they were. It’s in the monitoring officer’s report.”

CH: “It was a planning issue. The planning issue was dealt with.”

SM: “It was an ethical issue. It’s about the conduct of the chief executive. The monitoring officer says at the end of his report that is one of the grounds for concluding he might be guilty of gross misconduct. Yet it was January but you did nothing about it in October.”

CH: “In October the monitoring officer didn’t say that.”

SM: “Why didn’t you mention this contact in the answer you gave councillors today? It didn’t mention John Hague’s contact. There’s an answer from you today and it doesn’t mention John Hague bringing this to your attention or any of that.”

CH: “Because the report was in red papers and not for general circulation.

SM: “But the facts are correct so you can still reveal them here.”


CH: “The facts were in red papers. The table of events that were in there are factual and that’s what happened.”

SM: “But it’s not the complete table of events, though, are they? Very far from it.”

CH: “Well they are there.”

SM: “But they’re not telling the whole truth.”

CH: “Yes.”

SM: “Not the whole truth. It doesn’t mention John Hague bringing this to you in October – it completely glosses over that.”

CH: “It doesn’t gloss over it, It says the truth of what happened.”

SM: “It doesn’t tell the whole truth.”

CH: “It tells the truth of what happened.”

SM: “It doesn’t tell the whole truth, though, does it?”

CH: “It tells the truth of what happened.”

SM: “You’re skating over that aren’t you?”

CH: “I’m not skating over it. I’m telling the facts as they are.”

LABOUR CALL FOR APOLOGY FROM COUNCIL LEADER

6 March 2006

Swansea Council leader Chris Holley has been told to apologise over the Thorogate affair by Labour rivals.

They claim Councillor Holley should have intervened when he first learned of planning issues regarding former chief executive Tim Thorogood's Rhossili home in October and read the £120,000 a year top officer the riot act.

Councillor Holley said Labour had far more to apologise for, pointing to the huge building repair bill the city is facing, and insists he did everything properly and acted swiftly once an official complaint was lodged in December.

He said: "The issue in October was dealt with by a planning committee which is open to public scrutiny. That committee dealt with the retrospective planning permission.

"There was no comment made to myself either from the monitoring officer or the head of human resources about the matter."

Councillor Holley said that when a complaint was made against Mr Thorogood in December and he was informed by the monitoring officer and head of human resources of the situation it was dealt with straight away.

He said: "I instructed them to make sure that everything they were doing was legal and above board and they approached me the following day which resulted, within an hour, of the chief executive being asked to leave the building."

Councillor Phillips believes that he is partially responsible for the action taken which is grossly incorrect and he has claimed that nothing happened until he intervened which has also proven to be incorrect."

Mr Thorogood has left the council in a £60,000 deal last month after facing an investigation into the row over a garage he built at his home.

Labour leader David Phillips believes Councillor Holley should have acted much sooner after a leaked report confirmed he was aware of the issue in October.

He said: "The report makes it clear that he knew something was wrong two months before an official complaint was lodged. As leader of the council he should have got Tim Thorogood in his office and read him the riot act there and then.

"Chris Holley was telling people that they should have been delighted with the £60,000 pay off and that it represented value for money. I believe that he now owes them an apology and a more truthful explanation about his involvement."

Council rebuts claims on garage

6 March 2006 - Western Mail

SWANSEA Council leader Chris Holley has strongly defended the authority over allegations it should have acted sooner over former chief executive Tim Thorogood's controversial garage.
Mr Thorogood quit his £120,000 post as head of Swansea City and County Council's 11,000 staff last month.

It followed complaints about additional work on the garage at the rear of the 46-year-old officer's luxury Gower home.

Mr Thorogood and his magistrate wife Alison only had planning permission to operate the building as a garage or tackroom.

A neighbour complained to the council when windows started springing up on the structure.
This week the BBC's Dragon's Eye programme revealed concerns were raised by councillors and council officers in October last year.

But it was not until December, when the neighbour complained, that action was taken.
The Thorogoods had been granted retrospective planning approval for the garage in October.
But the programme said an officer and a councillor, when driving past the Thorogood home, started to express concern.

Labour opposition group leader on Swansea Council, David Phillips, said that was the time action should have been taken.

But Mr Holley, leader of the ruling Liberal Democrat alliance on the council said yesterday, "As soon as the member of public complained and it was taken, we did go into action. Within an hour of having that information in December Mr Thorogood was asked to leave his office and he did not return.

"I did speak to a fellow councillor before the complaint came in. He was flabbergasted at what he had seen at the house. But politicians should not get involved in the planning process.

"As soon as we had an official complaint action was taken and we are now looking for a new chief executive.

"And I must stress that if enforcement action is necessary over that garage then it will be taken. It will be treated like any other planning matter and that is how it always was treated."
Mr Thorogood left the authority with a "mutually agreed" reference and a financial deal amounting to six months' pay.

Mr Holley said yesterday, "That was the best deal for the council tax payer because the costs could have been huge if we had a long, drawn out investigation while the chief executive was suspended on full pay."

TAX PAYERS NEED ANSWERS

South Wales Evening Post Editorial
4 March 2006

It's the mystery of the letter that never was. What did Councillor John Hague intend to bring up with Tim Thorogood on October 21 before the leader of the council persuaded him not to write? Was his main beef that the chief executive had jumped the gun by building before planning permission had been given? Or was he more concerned with the size of the development itself?

However interesting his reply would be, there are bigger questions left unanswered by the leaked report.

The first is what kind of work was carried out at the "garage" before the second application was approved. The second is whether Mr Thorogood made assurances, as sought by the Gower Society, that the "garage" would not be used for residential purposes before his wife inquired about advertising a holiday home on the council's website.

Unfortunately Mr Thorogood left the council with £60,000 before he could provide the answers.

Pursuing a disciplinary case may well have cost even more, but at least the council tax payer would have had the satisfaction of getting the answers. And without them this controversy will not simply go away.

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.

HOW THE SORRY SAGA UNFOLDED

4 March 2006

September 3, 2004 - Chief executive Tim Thorogood (pictured above) submits a planning application for a detached garage and workshop and informs department heads.

January 26, 2005 - Permission is granted.August 17 2005 - He seeks advice about making further changes and is told to submit a fresh application. He does not speak to heads of department.S

eptember 8, 2005 - A second application is submitted but he does not inform department heads. Work is carried out before the application is heard by councillors

October 18, 2005 - The application is approved, but Rhossili Community Council members point out they would have expected work to be carried out after permission was granted. The Gower Society raised questions about the size and design of the garage and sought assurances it would not be used for residential purposes.

October 20-21, 2005 - Councillor Hague drafts a letter to the chief executive but does not send it. Head of planning Reena Owen tells Mr Thorogood it would have been preferable for him to wait for permission.

November 29, 2005 - Alison Thorogood, Mr Thorogood's wife, asks for advice about advertising a holiday home on the council's tourism website.

December 2, 2005 - An official complaint is lodged alleging planning rules had been broken.

December 5, 2005 - Mr Thorogood is told of the complaint and that the planning department investigation would be carried out. As a result of that inquiry, it was found that a fitted kitchen had been added to the garage and that planning rules had been breached.

December 20, 2005 - Mr Thorogood is suspended, pending an internal inquiry.

January 13, 2006 - His resignation is accepted after a review panel decides Mr Thorogood has a case to answer.

SIX MONTHS' PAY FOR COUNCIL CHIEF ON QUITTING JOB

18 February 2006

Controversial chief executive Tim Thorogood did pick up six months' worth of pay when he left Swansea Council, it has been confirmed. But council leader Chris Holley has stood by his claims that the council did not give Mr Thorogood a pay-off worth £60,000.

However, he has admitted that the deal struck between the council and Mr Thorogood, allowing him to leave, WAS worth six months salary.

A council source has confirmed that Mr Thorogood was paid an annual salary of £120,000.However, when asked about the value of the pay-off, Councillor Holley originally said: "I can tell you it's less."

He went on to say that the deal was "good value for the people of Swansea".

A letter to Labour group leader David Phillips revealed that Mr Thorogood's deal was in fact worth half-a-year's salary, £60,000, but Councillor Holley is standing by his original comments.

He said: "My comment was about how much he got paid - and what he got paid was less than £60,000.

"I can confirm that what's written in the letter is correct and I can confirm that he received the equivalent of six months salary."

Mr Thorogood resigned from the council following a planning row over his Rhossili home. He had been accused of breaking planning rules and was suspended for three weeks ahead of an internal investigation.

When he left the council, that inquiry was dropped, but planners were continuing to look at the case.

It has also emerged that Mr Thorogood will be given a reference from Swansea Council.

Councillor Holley said: "To comply with the law, if we are asked for a reference we will give one.

"We have to give out a factual reference and that is what it is."

The letter from the council's acting chief executive Bob Carter says: "The agreement involved the equivalent of six months pay, incorporating three months contractual notice and accrued holiday pay and an element to compromise potential claims."

Labour group leader Councillor Phillips has now demanded answers over the pay-off and the true cost to the council.

He said: "In light of this letter, Chris Holley has got some explaining to do."Either he was misled or he has misled everyone else."

ONE RULE FOR THEM

16 February 2006

Like many others, your correspondent Alcwyn T Price (Have Your Say, February 8) seeks an explanation for the retrospective sanctioning of the former Swansea Council chief executive's garage alterations and considers that the planning department is a law unto itself. This particularly relates to the council's own schemes, where less stringent rules seem to apply.

Projects can be inadequately researched and documented, necessitating queries which may wait months for reluctant answers.Biased or misleading information can be fed to councillors.

For example, the relevant planning committee was told the new siting of the Slip Bridge "would seek to retain the trees on the Mumbles Road side".

In fact they were cut down, with the result that the proclaimed object of retaining the trees "to soften the visual impact of the view of the bridge" was not achieved. Its starkness remains for all to see.

In the case of the new educational centre in Singleton's botanic garden, the planning committee was assured that "it is not proposed to provide any additional car parking or coach parking as a result of the development".

This undertaking was intended to assuage the fears of local residents that the centre would encourage more cars to enter Singleton Park.

In fact, a fair-sized car park has been created without planning permission on the nursery land immediately behind the building. Councillors were told the siting of the building "would create a sense of enclosure to the garden" and would not harm the setting of Sidney Heath's listed Georgian fountain. Visitors can now see that both assurances are highly disputable.

It is unfortunate the council has abandoned the intended independent investigation that would have evaluated the planning department's role in the garage saga. This should not, however, prevent the council from establishing its own review of the department's performance and procedures in consultation with dissatisfied taxpayers.

Rus Davies, Cwmrhydyceirw, Swansea

EX-COUNCIL CHIEF STILL FACES GARAGE PROBE

4 February 2006 - South Wales Evening Post

Former city boss Tim Thorogood could still face action for breaking planning rules despite leaving Swansea Council. The council's £120,000-a-year chief executive left his post this week with a golden goodbye package understood to be worth around £60,000.

He had been the subject of an internal investigation but that has now been dropped as he is no longer a council employee.

However, planning officers will continue to look at a garage at his Rhossili home and could order him to pull it down if planning rules have been broken.

He was officially suspended from his post ahead of an internal inquiry last month.

However, in a shock move it was announced on Thursday that he would be quitting the council with immediate effect.

A council spokesman confirmed that the planning matter was not dead and would be dealt with.

He said: "In cases where there is an allegation of a breach of a planning application, the policy of the council is to contact applicants to discuss the issues raised and consider with them the way forward.

"This is the process that is being followed in this case."

The decision to allow Mr Thorogood to leave before the completion of the internal investigation has been heavily criticised.

Plaid Cymru AM Dai Lloyd said: "I find it very difficult to believe that a council employee lower down the scale would be treated with such generosity when faced with disciplinary investigation.

"Had the disciplinary investigation continued as planned then I am sure that Tim Thorogood would have been sacked from his post with no mention of a package."

Leader of Swansea's Plaid Cymru councillors, Darren Price, said that it was important to keep the investigation alive.

He said: "I feel it is vitally important that the investigation surrounding the issues with Mr Thorogood's planning application continues.

"The truth surrounding this whole affair must come to light.

"The fact that the chief executive has left the authority should not mean that the issue dies down."

When the announcement came, Labour group leader David Phillips described it as "entirely inappropriate".

The row erupted following a decision to grant planning consent for the garage at Mr Thorogood's home in December 2004.

He was then instructed to submit a further application as the final design was significantly different from the plans.

There were further allegations of more building work on the garage that triggered an official complaint.

In the wake of Mr Thorogood's departure, council leader Chris Holley defended the deal.

He also denied that Mr Thorogood had received a £60,000 pay-off.

"I can tell you it's less," he said.

"We've actually had a legal agreement and the agreement was then put past our external auditors and both of them are satisfied.

"So I'm quite confident the package is most prudent and also legal and it's good value for the people of Swansea.

"I think the taxpayers will be delighted that we've come to an agreement that does not drag on for months and months and months and adds countless tens of thousands of pounds to a bill."

How much did council pay boss after he quit?

4 February 2006 - Western Mail

A Welsh local authority was under growing pressure last night to reveal how much its former chief executive was paid after resigning his £120,000-a-year post.

Tim Thorogood, who had been in charge of Swansea City and County Council's 12,000 workers for almost three years, stepped down this week over a planning row at his luxury home.

The 46-year-old had gained retrospective planning permission for a garage at the Gower property on the grounds it was only to be used as a garage or workroom. But he was then suspended pending an investigation amid complaints the building had been fitted with Velux roof windows and other features.

Now opposition councillors claim he may have walked away with up to £60,000 as part of a negotiated departure deal.

But the Western Mail understands that figure to be closer to £45,000 based on payments in lieu of three months' minimum notice, holiday entitlements and other payments.

Plaid Cymru AM Dai Lloyd said yesterday, "I find it bizarre a council employee who faced allegations about planning matters has been offered such a sum. Why should the taxpayers of Swansea be paying somebody to leave office?

"I find it very difficult to believe that a council employee lower down the scale would be treated with such generosity when faced with disciplinary investigation."

But the council leader, Liberal Democrat Chris Holley, flatly denied the £60,000 figure yesterday.

He said, "I can tell you it's less. We've actually had a legal agreement and the agreement was then put past our external auditors and both of them are satisfied.

"So I'm quite confident the package is most prudent and also legal and it's good value for the people of Swansea.

"The taxpayers will be delighted that we've come to an agreement that does not drag on for months and months and months and adds countless tens of thousands of pounds to a bill."

A council source said yesterday it would have cost £1,000 a day to hire a QC to oversee a disciplinary investigation into the issue which could have lasted two months.

Labour group leader David Phillips said, "This might be good value but where is the justice?"

He wants a full public explanation of the deal the authority has made with Mr Thorogood.

The chief executive had been suspended on his full £10,000- a-month pay.

He was asked to leave his desk just before Christmas after questions were raised over work done to the garage at his detached home Broad Park, overlooking Rhossili Bay.

An investigation, due to be completed within two months, had focused on an application made for a detached garage and workshop at Mr Thorogood's property.

Swansea council had said there "was a case" for Mr Thorogood to answer, and that an independent investigator would be appointed to oversee the investigation.

Mr Holley said yesterday that nobody had forced Mr Thorogood to resign.

He said, "It's down to the fact that once a certain decision had been raised then I think perhaps he thought, 'what's the point, I may as well go'."

The council's Plaid group leader Darren Price said the planning issues involved should also be made public.

"The fact the chief executive has left should not mean that the issue dies down," he said.

"The people of Swansea deserve to know the exact nature of what went on during this period - after all it has cost them thousands."

But the disciplinary action against Mr Thorogood has now been dropped.

And a council source said yesterday that it was likely the planning issue would be forgotten.

The source said, "It is now a planning matter between a private individual living on Gower and the council.

"If there is something there which has not had planning approval it might be subject to enforcement action but that has to be looked into."

Swansea's deputy chief executive Bob Carter is now acting chief executive until a new chief is appointed.

Council defends chief's pay-off

3 February 2005- BBC Wales Website

The leader of Swansea Council has defended the 'compromise package' paid to the authority's chief executive, who has resigned since being suspended.

Chris Holley denied claims that Tim Thorogood was paid six months' money as he quit his £120,000-a-year post.

Mr Thorogood was suspended pending an investigation into a planning issue at his home. He accepted minor planning breaches but had denied misconduct.

Mr Holley said an agreement was reached to let him resign as soon as possible.

Mr Thorogood was suspended in January, and had been off work after questions were raised in December over work done to his house in Rhossili, Gower.

The council announced on Thursday night that he had quit with immediate effect.

Liberal Democrat Mr Holley said Mr Thorogood had "made a huge contribution to Swansea" and he wished him "every success".

He said "He has been an inspiration and driving force behind many improvements to the council. He's laid the groundwork for the council to become a top performing organisation."

On Friday, Mr Holley told BBC Wales the financial deal struck with Mr Thorogood's negotiators included a confidentiality clause, but he "categorically" denied opposition councillors' claims he had been paid six months' salary.

He said: "I can tell you it's less.

"We've actually had a legal agreement and the agreement was then put past our external auditors and both of them are satisfied.

"So I'm quite confident the package is most prudent and also legal and it's good value for the people of Swansea.

"I think the taxpayers will be delighted that we've come to an agreement that does not drag on for months and months and months and adds countless tens of thousands of pounds to a bill."

Mr Holley said nobody had forced Mr Thorogood to resign.

He said: "I think it's down to the fact that once a certain decision had been raised then I think perhaps he thought, 'what's the point, I may as well go'."

The investigation had focused on an application made for a detached garage and workshop at Mr Thorogood's property.

Mr Thorogood, who took up the post three years ago, was given approval for the garage retrospectively.

Swansea council had said there "was a case" for Mr Thorogood to answer, and that an independent investigator would be appointed to oversee an investigation.

However, a spokesman for the council said disciplinary action against Mr Thorogood had now been dropped.

Planning-row council boss quits to 'take career in different direction'

3 Feb 2006 - Western Mail

A COUNCIL chief has resigned his £120,000-a-year job after a row over a luxurious-looking "garage" at his home.

Tim Thorogood, Swansea City and Council's chief executive, made the announcement yesterday saying he "planned to develop his career in a different direction".

The 46-year-old had been in charge of 11,000 council staff but was asked to leave his County Hall desk last December after complaints about extra building work on a garage at his Gower property.

Mr Thorogood and his magistrate wife Alison, a complaints officer with neighbouring Neath Port Talbot Council, had applied for planning permission to build the garage at their detached home overlooking picturesque Rhossili Bay in 2004.

Mr Thorogood, a lover of horse riding and sailing who keeps a yacht in Swansea Marina, had previously been head of support services at London's Haringey Council. When he took up his post at Swansea's seafront County Hall, he said, "I have died and come to heaven."

He was officially suspended last month while councillors looked into the allegations about the extent of work on the garage. The Gower Society, local community councillors and neighbours had complained that it had windows with curtains and other fittings inside.

The council said it had up to two months to carry out the investigation but Mr Thorogood announced his resignation yesterday.

He said, "I had originally intended working for Swansea for no longer than five years and I have decided in the circumstances simply to leave at this point to develop my career in a different direction.

"Both the council and the city have achieved much in the past few years - Swansea is definitely a place with a future.

"I am particularly proud of the efforts of staff across the board to improve our services and of the council's delivery of the Liberty Stadium and key improvements in the city centre."

Referring to the £25m re-fitting of what was once one of Wales' most popular visitor attractions, forced to close months after he joined the council because of maintenance problems, he said, "I'm sure that the new leisure centre will be a great success."

Chris Holley, Swansea's council leader, was last night full of praise for the former chief executive.
He said, "Tim has made a huge contribution to Swansea in the three years that he has been chief executive.

"He has been the inspiration and driving force behind many improvements to the council and has laid the groundwork for the council to become a top performing organisation.

"On behalf of all members of the council I wish him every success in the future."

Mr Thorogood was the driving force behind a controversial e-government scheme.

Swansea's IT workers went on a two-month strike last year when two private firms began bidding for a multi-million-pound computerisation programme at the council.

It will see members of the public having easier access to the council but some have criticised the project's £100m cost.

Unions are also worried that other services might be privatised and that "savings" produce by the programme could mean job cuts.

The council will contribute £4m a year to the programme, being run by computer contractors Capgemini, over the next 10 years.

Council chief in house row quits

2 February 2006 - BBC Wales Website

Swansea Council's chief executive, who was suspended while an investigation was carried out into a planning issue surrounding his home, has resigned.

Tim Thorogood was suspended from his £120,000-a-year post in January.
He had been off work after questions were raised in December over work done to his house in Rhossili, Gower.

The council announced on Thursday night that he has quit with immediate effect. He had acknowledged minor planning breaches, but denied misconduct.
The investigation had focused on an application made for a detached garage and workshop at his property.

Mr Thorogood, who took up the post three years ago, was given approval for the garage retrospectively.

Swansea council had said there "was a case" for Mr Thorogood to answer, and that an independent investigator would be appointed to oversee an investigation.

However a spokesman for the council said disciplinary action against Mr Thorogood had now been dropped.

After he was suspended on 13 January, 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.

Swansea's Liberal Democrat council leader, Chris Holley, said Mr Thorogood had "made a huge contribution to Swansea".

"He has been an inspiration and driving force behind many improvements to the council. He's laid the groundwork for the council to become a top performing organisation.

"On behalf of all the members of the council, I wish him every success in the future."

Speaking about the financial settlement, he added Mr Thorogood had had what he was legally entitled to, and a severance payment. The council had taken advice from barristers and auditors in making the arrangements.

Mr Holley said the council was "acting swiftly and prudently" to deal with the situation.

However Swansea council's opposition leader, Labour councillor David Phillips, raised concerns about the financial arrangements following Mr Thorogood's resignation.

"The resignation was probably inevitable given the circumstances and the amount of evidence already in the public domain," he told BBC Wales.

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.

Suspension panel puts off verdict on planning row chief

31 December 2005 - Western Mail

A £120,000-A-YEAR council chief facing possible suspension over a planning row involving his luxury home has won a 10-day reprieve.

A special panel of Swansea City and County councillors has the power to suspend the local authority's most senior officer - chief executive Tim Thorogood. But yesterday the panel's delegates met and decided to delay its verdict until January 9 to allow Mr Thorogood more time to take any legal advice.

The controversy centres on a garage he and his magistrate wife Alison gained planning permission for at the home, Broad Park, in the picturesque Gower village of Rhossili. At the centre of the row is exactly what use the garage is to be put to.

In a dramatic end to 2005 for the authority, the 45-year-old chief executive, who heads 11,000 staff, was asked to leave his office at County Hall on December 20 by another senior officer. The move was necessary because the authority had set in motion an inquiry into what it called a planning issue regarding Mr Thorogood's home. Under local government procedure the chief executive could not remain in charge of the council investigating a planning application he made.

The Thorogoods were granted planning permission to build a barn-style garage on their property overlooking Rhossili Bay last January. But they were then asked to apply for retrospective amended planning permission following concerns about the number of windows included in the building.

Then, last October, the council's planning department decided the couple should apply for fresh retrospective approval for the garage - which was granted.

An investigation began following complaints from Rhossili Community Council, neighbours in Rhossili and the Gower Society, which keeps a keen eye on developments throughout the holiday peninsula.

A council spokesman said yesterday, "The council's General Purposes Panel met today to discuss an issue regarding a planning matter at the chief executive Tim Thorogood's home.

"The chief executive is being dealt with in accordance with the procedures that are set out for chief executives.

"No decisions were taken at the meeting and the panel is due to reconvene on January 9.

"The chief executive was not present at the meeting, with the agreement of his representative.

"It is inappropriate for the council to comment further on this matter at the present time."

Mr Thorogood is a member of the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (Solace) which will represent him at the January 9 hearing.

A senior member of the Liberal Democrat-led coalition running the council said yesterday it was felt reasonable the chief executive should have more time to take advice on the matter.

The councillor, who asked to remain unnamed, said, "As this has blown up at the Christmas and New Year holiday period it has obviously not been the best time to obtain legal and union advice."

If Mr Thorogood is suspended over the issue, an independent investigator will be appointed to look into the whole history of the planning application.

Mr Thorogood has not commented on the matter.

The General Purposes Panel which met yesterday looks into disciplinary and other matters.

HOLD-UP IN COUNCIL BOSS CASE

31 December 2005 - Evening Post

Swansea Council's top boss will have to wait until the new year to find out if he is to be suspended. Tim Thorogood, the council's chief executive, was expected to hear yesterday if he would be suspended from his £120,000-a-year job over a planning row at his luxury Rhossili home.

Mr Thorogood and his wife Alison, who works as a corporate complaints officer for Neath Port Talbot Council and is a Swansea magistrate, were granted permission for a new garage in January.

However, a number of formal complaints about the size and alleged use of the building mean the council is set to investigate if any rules have been broken.

Mr Thorogood had been expected to be formally suspended by the council's General Purposes Panel, but his legal team wanted more time to prepare, and was allowed a 10-day adjournment.

A council spokesman said: "The chief executive is being dealt with in accordance with the procedures that are set out for chief executives. No decisions were taken at the meeting and the panel is due to reconvene on January 9.

"The chief executive was not present at the meeting, with the agreement of his representative.

"It is inappropriate for the council to comment further on this matter at the present time."

There are special rules in place for chief executives at all councils to prevent them falling foul of malicious accusations.

Labour Group leader David Phillips said that the council was right to follow procedure.

He said: "If they have to go down this route, then the proper procedure needs to be followed.

"As I understand it his representatives wanted more time to prepare."

Mr Thorogood had been due to sign-off a £170 million deal that will see Swansea Council's IT systems being run by private company Capgemini yesterday.

At a hastily arranged cabinet meeting Mr Thorogood's deputy, Bob Carter, was handed emergency powers to conclude the deal instead.

It means that 66 council IT staff will transfer to Capgemini in the New Year.

Council leader Chris Holley said: "The decision to defer to January 9 was to give the chief executive's legal team time to consider all aspects of the situation.

"It is only right and proper that he is given this opportunity."

SUSPENSION IS LIKELY FOR COUNCIL'S TOP BOSS

30 December 2005 - Evening Post

Swansea Council's top boss was today expected to be suspended over a planning row. A decision on chief executive Tim Thorogood's future was due to be taken by three councillors sitting on the authority's general purpose panel.

They are expected to suspend the council's top officer while an investigation is carried out into a planning row over his luxury Gower home.

The row centres on a planning application Mr Thorogood and his wife Alison, who works as a corporate complaints officer for Neath Port Talbot Council and is a Swansea magistrate, made for their home in Rhossili.

They were granted permission to build a garage on the property in January, but were asked when the work was completed to apply for retrospective amended permission after planners raised concerns about the number of windows included.

In October, planning officers decided Mr Thorogood and his wife would have to apply for fresh retrospective approval for the garage as it varied significantly from the original permission.

Approval was given but complaints were made by neighbours claiming that the garage now boasted a kitchen, sleeping facilities and en-suite bathroom.

That led to Mr Thorogood being asked to leave County Hall last week while wheels were put in motion to set up today's meeting where he is expected to be suspended while an independent investigation is carried out.

A hastily convened special cabinet meeting was also pencilled in for this afternoon.

It is expected to give deputy chief executive Bob Carter permission to sign the deal with IT firm Capgemini - the council's preferred partner for delivering the £170 million eGovernment programme aimed at updating council systems, improving efficiency and creating one stop shops for council queries.

A spokesman for Swansea Council said: "A meeting of the general purposes panel of the council will be taking place today to discuss an issue regarding a planning matter at the chief executive Tim Thorogood's home.

"The chief executive is being dealt with in accordance with the procedures that are set out for chief executives. It is inappropriate for the council to comment further on this matter at the present time."

Council chief faces being suspended in planning row

29 December 2005 - Western Mail

THE chief executive of one Wales' biggest local authorities could be facing suspension at a special meeting tomorrow.

Tim Thorogood, who is paid £120,000 a year at Swansea City and County Council, has been called before a hastily-convened panel of councillors.

It will examine complaints about the development of a barn-style garage at the chief executive's luxury home on Gower.

In a dramatic ending to the year for the council, Mr Thorogood was asked to leave his office at County Hall last week by another senior officer.

It was a routine procedure as the chief executive could not remain in charge of the authority investigating the planning application which he submitted.

The application was made jointly with his wife Alison.

The complaints, from the Gower Society, Rhossili Community Council and some Rhossili residents, centre on exactly what use the garage is to be put to.

From the outside a number of windows can be seen on the garage, at the rear of Mr Thorogood's house, Broad Park, which overlooks Rhossili Bay.

A senior member of the council said yesterday the general purposes panel has the power, if it was found necessary, to suspend the chief executive. An independent investigator would then be appointed to look into the planning row.

Mr Thorogood, whose hobbies including sailing and horse riding, joined the authority three years ago from Haringey Council in London where he was director of support services. His wife Alison now works for neighbouring Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council as a complaints officer and is a Swansea magistrate.

Mr Thorogood announced on joining the authority that it was his intention to make Swansea City and County Council one of the top performing local authorities in Britain. He has overseen the first phase of a plan to computerise public links with the authority, a move which led to a two-month strike by council IT workers.

The workers were concerned about their jobs being "outsourced" to the private sector and there were worries it might lead to other departments being outsourced to private companies.

But after certain assurances were given, a multi-million pound deal with private IT firm Capgemini is close to being signed.

Council IT workers will transfer to Capgemini under the deal, which could be signed at a cabinet meeting tomorrow after the general purposes panel has met.

The planning saga over the Thorogoods' garage began on December 14 last year when a site visit was made by councillors. Then the events unfolded as follows:

January 11, 2005 - planning permission is granted with conditions;

September - as a result of additional work to the garage, planners ask for a fresh application;
Letters are sent between Mr Thorogood and the planning department to clarify the issues.

October 18 - a fresh application goes to committee.

Rhossili Community Council and the Gower Society raise concerns but the committee resolves to approve the new application.

December - a complaint is lodged with the council by Rhossili Community Council, the Gower Society and neighbours.

December 20 - Mr Thorogood agrees to leave County Hall while the issue is looked at.