BOSSES at Wokingham Borough Council (WBC) splashed out £5,700 on a report ‘clearing’ councillors of wrongdoing in a controversial planning case.

Solicitor Richard Lingard was asked to investigate whether officers and ward members behaved inappropriately in the run-up to legal action against Rob Scott, boss of Wargrave garden centre Hare Hatch Sheeplands.

In 2018, a judge found WBC bosses induced Mr Scott to withdraw an appeal against a planning enforcement notice, but Mr Lingard’s report concluded suggestions of unprofessional conduct were “unfounded”.

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An investigation by the News revealed chiefs at WBC forked out £5,700 for Mr Lingard’s review.

Philip Meadowcroft, who has been supporting Sheeplands managers throughout their legal wrangle with the council and who was critical of the report, said: “It is quite a frightening amount.

“It appears he has spent hardly any time on it – it has been done on a very limited amount of time and investigation.

“My complaint about it being worthless is being reinforced.”

WBC bosses were initially reluctant to hold an investigation into councillors’ conduct after opposition members called for the report in February.

But the review was given the go-ahead earlier this year, and Cllr Wayne Smith, WBC’s planning boss, said: “WBC’s legal action to protect the Green Belt from unlawful development at Hare Hatch Sheeplands has been a matter of considerable public interest.

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“Therefore, it is completely appropriate that we commissioned a highly detailed report from an eminent legal expert on the issue.

“The report is extremely valuable for our staff and councillors as we continue to develop the best ways to tackle unlawful development in the borough.”

Mr Lingard’s review was released with more than 300 redactions, including eleven completely missing paragraphs, but WBC chiefs have now published a mostly unredacted version of the report.

Previously hidden parts of the interview involving Cllr John Halsall now show remarks made by the leader of WBC, including a suggestion the council “should in future choose its battles better.”

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Newly revealed comments indicated Cllr Halsall was unhappy with the council’s decision to prosecute Mr Scott again through the Proceeds of Crime Act as this action would have been seen as ‘hammering someone into the ground’.