Planning shake-up pledge in wake of masts blunder

Dec 29 2007 by Liam Murphy, Liverpool Daily Post

PLANNING procedures in Wirral are to be revamped following an investigation into a potentially costly blunder by the authority over phone masts.

Chief executive Stephen Maddox has promised councillors issues raised by an independent report into the blunder will “be embraced”.

Former chief executive of Bolton Council Bernard Knight was brought in to review an internal investigation into how four phone mast applications affecting Moreton, Pensby, Heswall and Claughton were bungled by officials.

Earlier this year, Wirral’s planning committee refused four applications to build masts by T-Mobile, but because the company was not informed within the 56 day limit it was given “deemed consent” which allowed work to proceed.

It was the second time the council had blundered in this way. There was a similar problem in 2001 after which the authority said it was implementing procedures to stop it happening again.

It was therefore doubly embarrassing when the council admitted earlier this year the mistake had been repeated.

In a report to be presented to members of Wirral’s planning committee on January 10, Mr Maddox said a “more robust, prescriptive and thorough procedure” will be put into place.

This will include just three planning officers being tasked with dealing with phone mast applications to “develop an expertise within the development control section”.

In addition Mr Maddox said “Decision Notices for Telecomm Applications are to be posted out first class and faxed with follow-up telephone call(s) to confirm receipt by the applicant/agent”.

Bernard Knight’s report had said the failure occurred when decisions were not sent out in two cases because faxes were not sent, and in the others because the notices were filed way.

Mr Maddox said there was still more work to do to address the points raised in the independent report.

He said: “I would recommend to members that I undertake a review of the operation of this service, looking specifically at the issues referred to in Mr Knight’s report and including a more general overview of the section’s current staffing structure.”

The entire debacle has been severely criticised by Moreton councillor Chris Blakeley, who said the independent report blames procedures, but failed to say who was to blame.

He said: “I’m not satisfied with this report and will continue to question what went on.”

A petition calling for masts built as a result of the blunder to be removed was turned down by the council.

liammurphy