Overview
The complainant (Mr C) raised a number of concerns about Fife Council (the Council)'s handling of an application for planning consent by a community group to upgrade a children's play area in a public park adjoining his home which he did not consider had been installed according to the approved plans.
Specific complaints and conclusions
The complaints which have been investigated are that:
(a) in reaching a decision to grant planning consent for the application, the Council failed to have proper regard to the amenity of neighbours (not upheld);
(b) the Council's planning enforcement team had not properly investigated the issue of whether the development as built complies with the approved plans (upheld); and
(c) the Council had not taken appropriate steps to secure for the public record a copy of the approved plans (partially upheld).
Redress and recommendations
The Ombudsman recommended that, in light of the failure to obtain a copy of the approved plans, the circumstances be reported to the appropriate committee as a potential enforcement action issue.
The Council have accepted the recommendation and will act on it accordingly.