A recent FOI request, (which I hope was answered with a little more honesty than my last one regarding legal costs), confirmed my suspicions that, in the last three years, Carmarthenshire County Council have not applied for full costs for another planning appeal for a single dwelling apart from ours, although unsuccessful, it seemed a particularly vindictive action against a local family for an affordable dwelling. I am not sure of their motive, but I think it backfired.
A recent planning committee meeting considered a report for planning appeals for the past nine months. Out of 49 appeals submitted, the planning inspector disagreed with the council's decision 11 times. Understandably then the issue of costs arose and the Head of Planning, Mr Eifion Bowen said that cost details might be included in future reports 'where appropriate' - transparency out of the window again! He also 'declared a financial interest' in this item as our appeal was amongst those listed - again I must question the impartiality of our appeal.
For the Committee's information, our appeal, although dismissed, saw the council's unnecessary use of an external barrister and the subsequent failed costs application cost the taxpayer £1500 in barrister's fees alone.
It should be remembered though that the libel lawyers the Chief Executive's and Legal Departments are so fond of consulting charge that amount per hour.
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