Arrangements for Release of Tesco Investigation Report

15 June, 2006

The media will receive copies of North Norfolk District Council's report on its investigation into the 2003 land deal agreement between NNDC and supermarket chain Tesco next week.

The findings of the investigation, which was conducted on behalf of the Chief Executive by the Council's Monitoring Officer and Audit and Performance Manager, will be reported to Full Council on 28 June. Copies of the report will be circulated with Full Council agendas before the meeting in the normal way. They will be posted to the normal list of recipients (which includes local media) using first class mail on 21 June, and published on the Council's website (www.northnorfolk.org/democracy) on the same day.

Hard copies will be available for members of the public to read at libraries and Council offices, as is usual with Council agendas and reports, on 22 June.

Apart from this news release, the Council's Cabinet Members and management will make no further public comment or statement on the legal agreement, the investigation or the ensuing report before the Full Council meeting starting at 6pm on Wednesday, 28 June.

Councillor Simon Partridge, Leader of NNDC, explained: "It's very important that we leave people to make their own minds up about this report, and don't try - or give anyone reason to think we're trying - to influence their views. District Councillors especially must have a chance to digest it without interference before it is discussed at Full Council."

Councillor Partridge and his Cabinet colleagues (who called for the investigation on 3 April this year after the agreement came to light) had the report presented to them informally after their scheduled committee meeting on 12 June. Though it had no power to make changes to the report, Cabinet had a two-and-a-half hour discussion on its contents and ramifications.

"Cabinet's priority is to look to the future, and make sure the Council's processes are properly transparent and democratic," said Councillor Partridge. "We are considering what we need to do, in the light of what we've learned already. But we also need to hear the views of other Councillors before we can make pronouncements or final decisions about what action we take."

NNDC intends the Monitoring Officer's presentation of the report, and ensuing discussion, to be in public as far as possible. If legal matters arise that would contravene the Council's duty to maintain personal and commercial confidentiality, though, the Council may have to go into private session. "We hope that won't happen, and that it will be kept to a minimum if it does," Councillor Partridge said.

The report has been sent in draft form to Tesco's lawyers, to ensure Tesco has a chance to highlight and challenge what it considers to be factual inaccuracies (should there be any) at this early stage.

It has also been sent to the Audit Commission (the public body which ensures accountability and improvement in public services) and will be sent to the Local Government Ombudsman, who has formally requested information (before deciding whether to carry out an investigation of his/her own) in response to a complaint from a member of the public.

Councillor Partridge, along with NNDC's Chief Executive Philip Burton, Monitoring Officer Emma Duncan and Audit and Performance Manager Peter Gollop, will be available to the media for interviews after the Full Council meeting on 28 June. The media are asked to introduce themselves to NNDC's Media Officer, Nick Manthorpe, if they attend Full Council so their needs can best be met.

Cameras and recording devices are not permitted in the Council chamber during formal sessions, but we will do our best to accommodate other requests for recording, if required.

The report and appendices can be downloaded here: Full Council meeting documents - 28 June 2006.

FURTHER INFORMATION FOR THE PUBLIC

• Members of the public, who can see the report online or at libraries and Council offices as described above, may wish to comment or seek further information. This should be done in writing to Philip Burton, Chief Executive, North Norfolk District Council, Holt Road, Cromer, Norfolk, NR27 9EN or by email at: pburton@north-norfolk.gov.uk

• Information can also be sought using the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Write to: The Corporate Freedom of Information Officer, North Norfolk District Council, Holt Road, Cromer, Norfolk, NR27 9EN. For more information about how the Act works, see www.northnorfolk.org/democracy/default_3339.asp

• Anyone who is unhappy with the way the Council has dealt with this issue or any complaint can contact the Local Government Ombudsman in writing at The Oaks, No 2, Westwood Way, Westwood Business Park, Coventry, CV4 8JB or online at www.lgo.org.uk.