Ombudsman bars publication of exoneration letter after planning dispute

The Local Government Ombudsman has told a council that it cannot publish its exoneration over a complex planning dispute.

North Norfolk District Council was involved in a lengthy dispute over whether supermarkets should be developed in the coastal town of Sheringham and, if so, by which retailer. Opposition groups argued that any supermarket would damage the independent retailers for which the town is noted.

The council received 23 complaints that it had failed to handle three related planning applications appropriately and passed these to the Ombudsman for consideration. Complainants said there had been unreasonable delays, improper processes and that the council’s final decision to allow a supermarket was unreasonable.

Now the Ombudsman has told the council: “On balance and having considered the matter carefully, I do not consider that the council’s actions have been unreasonable. Therefore, I have discontinued my investigation and closed the complaint.”

But North Norfolk has been told it cannot publish the letter in which the ombudsman detailed why he dismissed the complaints, a council spokesman said.

A spokesman for the Ombudsman said: “What matters is the privacy of the complainant. We have not published anything in this, and we rarely would where a complainant is not upheld, and nor can the council. A complainant could publish the letter we send to them if they chose.”

North Norfolk chief executive Philip Burton said, “This has been a long-running issue for NNDC and particularly for people in Sheringham. There have been strong and emotional feelings expressed on all sides of the supermarket argument and it is one that the council has had to manage with great care and sensitivity.

“We are delighted that the Local Government Ombudsman has found that the council acted reasonably throughout and has closed the complaint.”