Bristol City Council (07B02878 + 29 others)
Planning applications Maladministration causing injustice
19 January 2009
Administrative faults by Bristol City Council in the approval process for a sports stadium redevelopment scheme did not undermine the decision. The Ombudsman said: “In my view, the maladministration I have identified was at the margins of the complex consideration that the Council had to give to this development proposal.”
He added: “In those circumstances, although I recognise the complainants’ outrage that the Council’s failings will have caused, their injustice is insufficient for me to recommend to the Council that any compensation payments are due.”
Thirty residents who lived close to an established sports stadium complained that there were errors in the way the Council dealt with a planning application for its redevelopment and enlargement. They said they would be caused an avoidable loss of amenity, and suffer increased levels of disturbance, inconvenience and pollution from increased traffic.
Remedy
The Ombudsman asked the Council to put right failings that he said had “needlessly given rise to suspicion“. It should review the implementation of its policies and procedures in respect of:
- consultation on planning applications;
- consideration of environmental impact;
- substitution of Members at Planning Committees; and
- its Planning Code of Conduct.
LGO satisfied with Council's response: 28 November 2009
Date Updated: 10/12/09