Concerns Over Secrecy Of Probe Into Redevelopment Plan
Written by HFM News on 15th June 2022
Calls are being made for all councillors to be shown findings of an investigation into how a controversial Market Harborough redevelopment plan was handled.
The review was prompted after Harborough District 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 findings of the ‘Assets Review’ have only been released to a small number of the councillors, who have been told not to share its content.
Cllr Phil Knowles, Leader of the opposition Liberal Democrat group, is demanding every member is shown it and has tabled a motion to be considered at next week’s Full Council meeting:
The property bought by the council in Granville Street
PIC: ANDY CARPENTER
The findings of the investigation were discussed by the council’s Audit and Standards Committee earlier this year, although the public and press were barred from hearing proceedings.
Other councillors who were not on the committee, but in the public gallery, were also asked to leave, after the meeting heard the authority had sought legal advice from Queen’s Counsel on the matter.
There are on-going calls for the full report to be made public.
