Agenda item

The Chair reported that he had discussed this item with the Chair of the Authority and the Chair of Planning regarding whether or not the item should be referred to the full Authority.  However they had agreed that the item should be considered by the Audit, Resources and Performance Committee for scrutiny and accountability reasons.  A report on the issues raised in the Ombudsman’s decision will be made to the Planning Committee.

The Chair also reported that following further discussions it was felt that a micro scrutiny review of the issues raised and lessons learnt to minimise future risk may be appropriate.

The Director of Conservation and Planning introduced the report and explained the background to the complaint.

The Chair of the Planning Committee stated that he was concerned about the complaint decision and was happy for a report to be made to the Planning Committee regarding lessons learnt and mitigation of future risk.  He also welcomed a micro scrutiny review of the issues but it should be simple and short and consider the following issues:

·         Practicalities and process of consulting

·         Judging impact of developments on neighbours.

The recommendation and the proposal for a micro scrutiny review of the issues was moved.

It was agreed that the micro scrutiny review panel should include Members from both the Audit, Resources and Performance Committee and the Planning Committee.

In response to Members’ queries it was noted that an apology had been sent to the Complainant as requested by the Ombudsman and that officers had been briefed on lessons learnt from the complaint. 

The motion for the recommendation set out in the report and the proposed micro scrutiny review were seconded, voted on and carried.  The Members of the micro scrutiny review panel were agreed as Chair and Vice Chair of Audit, Resources and Performance Committee, Mrs E Sayer, Chair of Planning Committee and one other Member of the Planning Committee to be identified by the Chair of Planning Committee.

RESOLVED:

1.    To authorise arrangements to pay the diminution in value of a complainant’s property following the ‘before’ and ‘after’ valuation of £35,000 in settlement of a Local Government Ombudsman case. 

2.    To appoint a Micro Scrutiny Review Panel to consider the lessons learnt from the complaint. 

3.    The following Members were appointed to the Micro Scrutiny Review Panel: 

Chair of Audit, Resources and Performance Committee – Cllr A McCloy Vice Chair of Audit, Resources and Performance Committee – Cllr C Furness

Mrs E Sayer

Chair of Planning Committee – Mr P Ancell 

One other Member of the Planning Committee to be identified by the Chair of Planning Committee.

4.    That attendance at Micro Scrutiny Review Panel meetings be approved duties for the payment of travel and subsistence allowances.