A COUNCIL boss in charge of the department that handles planning applications was registered as a director of a planning consultancy firm for 14 months, it can be revealed.

Bury Council’s development manager Dave Marno oversees a team of staff who deal with planning decisions for the local authority.

The team registers planning applications for new buildings in the borough, makes decisions under delegated powers and makes recommendations to Bury planning committee, which is made up of councillors, about whether particular applications should be approved or rejected.

A source at Bury Council told the Bury Times a resident of Bury wrote to town hall bosses in late September querying whether Mr Marno’s activities away from the council created the potential for a conflict of interest.

According to Companies House records, David Marno, of Fernview Drive, Ramsbottom, was appointed as a director as Land Plan Consultancy Ltd, which is a private limited company registered in Fourth Avenue, Bury, on August 22, 2014.

The records show that Mr Marno resigned as a director from the position on October 1, this year.

Cllr Jacqui Harris, who is a member of the planning committee, and a member of the opposition Bury Conservative Group, said: “I was quite surprised to find out from a resident of Bury that Mr Marno was a director of a planning consultancy company and wrote a letter of complaint as the resident felt there could be a potential conflict of interest.

“As soon as the council was made aware of this issue, Mr Marno resigned from the company.”

The Bury Times approached Mr Marno for comment through Bury Council.

A council spokesman said: “In line with the council’s code of conduct, we are satisfied that there has been no conflict of interest.

“Professional integrity is extremely important to the council and we will always endeavour to ensure appropriate safeguards are in place.”

The remaining director of Land Plan Consultancy Ltd, Lionel Gilmartin, said: “The company was formed several years ago and is currently nothing more than an embryonic idea, which Dave was a part of.

“He was acting in an informal advisory role in a capacity that had absolutely no connection with Bury Council whatsoever.

“Indeed, the company, which intends to be a planning consultant, has so far done no business anywhere, let alone in Bury.”

Mr Gilmartin added: “I mistakenly provided the company’s accountant with the names of people involved with the company and the accountant registered Dave as a director in error – and without Dave’s knowledge.

“In fact, the first Dave knew of it was when the council asked him. He was extremely aggrieved that this had been done without his knowledge, as am I.

“Dave will not have a role with the company and, going forward, there is no intention at all to do consultancy work related in Bury, as I am based in South Manchester.

“I am disappointed that this issue has arisen as Dave is a man with impeccable integrity, whose department performs well and who will only ever do his best for Bury.”