Libel Case - Planning Process Compromised

During the site inspection last September for the planning appeal, the planning officer, Mr J Thomas, became interested in a small shed and a caravan on our land. Two weeks later a planning enforcement officer duly arrived. With an awkward preamble as to his knowledge of the libel case between the Head of Planning and ourselves he proceeded to inspect the offending items and concluded that, as we thought, everything was fine and we were not in any breach of planning control. He said that this would be confirmed in writing.

Sometime in November the confirmation letter arrived.
All was well except that the letter was headed by and signed on behalf of the Head of Planning. We decided that,under the circumstances, this was legally unacceptable, returned the letter (making a copy) and requested an alternative.

We have asked politely several times now for the replacement letter, to no avail. Even the acknowledgements to my requests are still on the same headed stationary and still bear the copied signature of the Head of Planning, the most recent being recieved last month which said yet again that '..the nature of your inquiry will require an element of research...15 working days'. This is the third such acknowledgement in seven months, with no response.

I can only conclude that the Council are not willing to acknowledge that the Head of Planning's legal action has compromised his position regarding planning matters.

Since December last year the Head of Planning has also had a financial interest in our property in the form of charging orders. There are now clear grounds to suggest he has breached the code of conduct, he will, of course, unlike ourselves in the libel case, be innocent until proven guilty. The complete lack of accountability, particularly when it involves the planning department will probably mean that our complaint is brushed aside. Of course now, if they do produce a replacement letter, it will have rather proved our point.

I wonder this time if we will make them change the Code of Conduct in the same way they changed the constitution. (which has now mysteriously gone offline).

Letter as sent to;

Mark James
Chief Executive
Carmarthenshire County Council

Dear Mr James,

Complaint Re; Mr Eifion Bowen, Head of Planning, Carmarthenshire County Council

We are writing to make a formal complaint;
Due to the inordinate length of time (seven months) and complete lack of response to our requests for an alternative letter confirming no breach of planning control at the above address, we are now issuing a formal complaint against the Head of Planning, Mr Eifion Bowen for breaching Carmarthenshire County Council’s;

5.2 Code of Conduct for Officers and Members in Planning Matters,
Sections; 2.3(b), 2.3(f) 2.3(g)(iii) and 7.5.
5.4 Code of Conduct for Officers;
Sections 10.1 and 10.2
[10.1 - Whilst employees private lives are their own concern, they must not allow their private interests to conflict with their public duty]

Please contact Mr Jonathan Lewis, Planning Enforcement Officer, for confirmation of the protracted correspondence.

We conclude that the council are not willing to acknowledge that the Head of Planning's legal action against ourselves has compromised his position regarding planning matters, we shall prove otherwise.

As the Head of Planning now has a financial interest in our property it is clear that his involvement with planning enforcement at the above address is in direct breach of the code.
We expect this complaint to be fully investigated with proper reference to the Council’s monitoring officer. If we are not satisfied with your response we will be taking further action.

Cc;
D L Thomas Head of Administration & Law
D Gilbert, Director of Regeneration & Leisure

I will post any reply here.