Probe Into Redevelopment Plan To Stay ‘Secret’

The findings of an investigation into how a controversial Market Harborough redevelopment plan was handled will not be released to all councillors.

A call for Harborough District Council’s ‘Assets Review’ to be shared with all members who wished to see it was rejected at a meeting last night.

A motion put forward by Cllr Phil Knowles, Leader of the opposition Liberal Democat group, was rejected by 17 votes to 11, as voting split along party lines, with councillors on the ruling Conservative group voting against it or abstaining.

The review was prompted after the Council was accused of paying too much for a property on Granville Street, the land of which forms part of a new housing scheme for Naseby Square on the Southern Estate.

It was bought for over £900,000, although valued at just over £300,000 on a property valuation website.

The Full Council meeting was told the authority had sought legal advice from Queen’s Counsel on the matter, which recommended the findings were not shared widely.

Only a small number of councillors have been shown the findings.

There are on-going calls for the full report to be made public.

87 Granville Street in Market Harborough
PIC: ANDY CARPENTER