Rules flouted by planning official

Mar 7 2008 by Ben Glaze, South Wales Echo

A COUNCIL planning official “made a mockery” of his own department, a watchdog said today.

The unnamed Rhondda Cynon Taf council enforcement officer resigned after two neighbours complained he flouted planning conditions when building two houses, leading to flooding in their gardens.

Public services ombudsman Adam Peat said the authority failed to protect the residents and should have been “whiter than white” because the row involved its own employee.

In a report published today, he said: “The council should have ensured there was no likelihood of any public perception of favourable treatment and a consequent undermining of the planning system.

“I regard the apparent lack of action in this case to be a major failing on the part of the council.”

The enforcement officer, who was responsible for ensuring developers stuck to planning conditions, built on undisclosed land and was told to cut the flood risk to nearby properties before starting work.

But he ignored the rules and began building anyway.

Two gardens were later flooded, causing one homeowner £400 worth of damage to plants and flowers. Another had so much water on his land bulrushes grew in his garden.

The pair complained to various departments at RCT council but little was done. The row dragged on for three years and still sufficient drainage was not in place.

Mr Peat said: “The fact that one of the developers was a council employee made the lack of action more noteworthy”

He added: “In short, the developer, who works for the council, has made a mockery of the enforcement function.”

Mr Peat upheld residents’ complaints and recommended the council pays £1,100 compensation for giving them “continuous worry for more than three years”.

The official would have been subject to disciplinary action if he still worked for the authority.

A council spokesman said: “Since 2004 we have heavily invested in the development control procedures of RCT council and are confident these robust measures will ensure such a series events will not occur again. We have fully accepted the recommendations of the ombudsman and implemented them appropriately.”

ben.glaze@mediawales.co.uk