Overview
Three complainants (Mr A, Mr B and Mr C) raised a number of issues regarding South Ayrshire Council (the Council)'s handling of a planning application for the erection of a telecommunications mast and associated equipment in a street near their homes.
Specific complaint and conclusion
The complaints which have been investigated are that the Council:
- (a) provided the Planning Committee (the Committee) and objectors with inaccurate information on a planning application for the erection of a telecommunications mast and associated equipment in a street near the complainants' homes (partially upheld); and
- (b) failed to take appropriate steps to ensure that the telecommunications mast and associated equipment erected by the applicants complied with planning consent (not upheld).
Redress and recommendations
The Ombudsman recommends that the Council:
- (i) apologise to the complainants for providing the Committee with inaccurate information on the planning application;
- (ii) ensure that, in future, more thorough checks are made on documentation for planning applications to ensure that those documents which are current and those which are superseded are clearly identified; and
- (iii) ensure that, in future, planning reports to Committee contain information on the history of the application, comparing the original scheme with the final proposal and outlining any significant changes which have been made.
The Council have accepted the recommendations and will act on them accordingly.