Probe of £5million council farm sale near Welshpool conducted in secret
A probe by Powys County Councillors into the sale of a farm near Welshpool for £5million was conducted in secret after expert legal advice was received.
A meeting of council’s Economy Residents and Communities scrutiny meeting on Wednesday, October 18 lasted just two and a half minutes before councillors voted to go into confidential session.
A request for the meeting to be held in public was unsuccessful.
Behind closed doors, councillors they would hear a report by the authority’s head of legal service and monitoring officer Clive Pinney, on the details surrounding the sale of 218 acres of the council’s farm estate at the village of Leighton near Welshpool.
A month earlier, at a cabinet meeting on September 19, senior members of the Liberal Democrat/Labour administration discussed a report in confidential session on the potential sale.
The buyers are believed to be Welshpool based waste and recycling firm Potters, who are said to be willing to offer £5 million for the land which is above the valuation of £4.13 million.
Ever since the discussion came to light, the cabinet has come under attack from opposition councillors over the clandestine nature of the deal – as well as the lack of contact with the sitting tenant of Gwyn’s Barn, Andrew Thomas.
Liberal Democrat chairwoman of the committee, Councillor Angela Davies had “called in” the item for scrutiny by her committee.
At last Wednesday's meeting Councillor Davies brought in Mr Pinney to explain why he advised the committee to discuss the issue in confidential session.
Mr Pinney said: “I am aware that confidentiality is an issue within the council.
“We have already had a breach of confidentiality in regard of this matter.
“It’s on that basis that I took independent legal advice from a very senior barrister who is the doyenne of local government law. He has confirmed to council that this matter remain confidential.
“Members of the committee will all have received his advice.
“I therefore ask that this matter be taken as an exempt item.”
Councillors voted unanimously to enter confidential session.
Earlier this month at a meeting, council leader Liberal Democrat Councillor James Gibson-Watt vowed to resign if he is found to have intentionally misled the council over the farm sale.
Councillor Gibson-Watt has stressed that he and his cabinet have acted appropriately.
