A house in multiple occupation conversion in Rhymney was approved in error because of an administrative mistake, Caerphilly County Borough Council has stated.
Plans for 25 Upper High Street had already sparked controversy, with one nearby resident alerting authorities that the building had been attacked by vandals and individuals making threats to set it on fire.
Councillors on the planning panel postponed their verdict in May following claims that Rhymney was bearing a disproportionate number of HMO conversion proposals.
Houses in multiple occupation are generally dwellings accommodating between three and six single adults who are unrelated, each with their own bedroom but sharing living spaces.
The panel had been due to reach a verdict on the scheme once an audit of existing HMOs in Rhymney had been finalised.
Instead, planning staff issued a decision notice in mid-July using delegated authority.
The outcome drew the focus of Twyn Carno ward representative Carl Cuss, who had voiced opposition to the scheme at the May gathering and had highlighted worries about the concentration of HMOs in the area.
Cllr Cuss said an obvious mistake had occurred. He explained that planning committee members deferred the decision and directed staff to compile a count of HMOs in Rhymney because they were not certain that planning and other departments fully understood the quantity.
Cllr Cuss, from Labour, expressed frustration that no planning staff members conducted that review, which was instead undertaken by himself alongside two fellow Labour representatives from an adjacent ward, Cllr David Harse and Cllr Mansell Powell.
Cllr Cuss commented that discovering the decision had already been made was, as one would expect, deeply irritating.
He continued that they have completed the review and it has not returned to the planning committee as required in accordance with the constitution. He said the officers have not adhered to the procedure and his faith in the planning department is now entirely broken.
The Labour member indicated he was contemplating referring the situation to the ombudsman, describing what he labelled as incompetence in the handling of this matter.
Regarding the HMO scheme’s prospects, Cllr Cuss stated that whatever the outcome may be, whether favourable or not, his constituents are entitled to explanations.
Responding to Cllr Cuss’s remarks, a council representative said they acknowledge that an administrative mistake did happen and the applicant was erroneously informed that planning consent had been granted.
Planning officers are currently communicating with the applicant and examining possibilities for reversing the decision.
The intention would then be for the application and any accompanying documentation to be reviewed at a subsequent planning committee session. The council representative said they wish to offer apologies to everyone affected as they work to resolve this situation promptly.