Ex-councillor breaches planning conditions

A disgraced former councillor is seeking a Certificate of Existing Lawful Use for his farm house after breaching planning conditions for 10 years.

Graham Brown, a former member of East Devon District Council claims that the house which was given planning permission on the condition that it was occupied by a person “solely or mainly” working in agriculture has been occupied by someone who does not meet that requirement, i.e. himself

In March 2013 Mr Brown resigned from the Council after being caught on camera boasting that he could secure planning permission as part of his planning consultancy business.

It is not illegal for councillors to work as paid consultants, but the Council’s leader said Mr Brown had brought “himself, the [Conservative] party, and the council into disrepute with his comments”