CABINET – Resources Portfolio
24 July 2007
Joint Report of the Director of Legal & Administrative Services and
the Director of Planning & Community Development
COUNSEL AND PLANNING ADVICE – TEMPLE LAKE APPEALS
1.
Purpose of report
To seek an amendment to the allocation granted towards the cost of
authorising the appointment of Ian Dove QC and David Tyldesley, planning
consultant, to act on behalf of the Council at the forthcoming Temple Lake
inquiry. This is in accordance with the Council’s key objective and aim of
providing high quality services.
2.
Background
Cabinet received a report on 29 May 2007 where funding of £15,000 was
approved in order that Messrs Dove and Tyldesley should represent the
Council at the forthcoming inquiry. It has also been resolved since that date
that the Council should proceed no further in opposing the appeal of Mr Singh
against the refusal of the 2006 application. However, this is not likely to
foreshorten the estimate of time allocated by the Planning Inspectorate for the
inquiry.
3.
Financial implications
The previous cabinet report made reference to quotations being sought and
as such the forecast costs at that time were prior to any detailed assessment
by the proposed appointed representatives.
Ian Dove QC and David Tyldesley have now had the opportunity to review the
likely work involved in representing the Council such that the best estimate of
likely costs (including any consultations prior to the inquiry) is now felt to be
£31,500. A supplementary revenue estimate is therefore requested in respect
of the additional £16,500. £108,500 remains available within revenue
contingencies, subject to other reports on this agenda, which could be used to
fund this increase.
Recommendation
The cabinet is asked to RESOLVE that a supplementary revenue estimate of
£16,500 be approved to cover the cost of retaining advocacy and planning
consultant’s assistance on behalf of the Council at the forthcoming Temple
Lake inquiry, with funding to be provided from within the Council’s revenue
contingency.
Background papers
Nil
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Document Outline