Action group win battle to get costs reimbursed

Published on 31st May 2007 in News

A local action group has been told it will be able to recover the cost of preparing to fight at a second public inquiry.

Holland House Action Group, the group set up to fight plans to turn the former nursing home into a secure unit, have been told they will be able to claim costs from PD Services and Partnerships in Care (PiC).

The two companies were due to attend a public inquiry in March of this year after lodging an appeal in response to the East Riding of Yorkshire Council's decision to refuse them planning permission.

They had hoped to turn the empty Holland House into secure units for patients with personality disorders.

The arrangements for the inquiry were made in October 30, 2006 but just weeks before it was due to start, PD Services and PiC separately withdrew their applications.

HHAG chairman Keith Moore said that the group had applied for costs on the grounds that PD Services and PiC had acted unreasonably and their actions had resulted in an unnecessary or wasted expense.

Mr Moore said: "I am happy with the decision as the action group has spent funds in preparation of their case and all of that time and expense could and should have been avoided."

The order, given by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, means that PD Services will have to refund HHAG their appeal costs from July 17 last year, and Partnerships in Care, from January 9.

The precise amount has not been announced as it will be up to the two parties to agree on a figure.

"The Holland House Action Group are committed to reaching agreement regards this award and would hope that PD Services and Partnerships in Care would now take a pragmatic view and commit themselves also," said Mr Moore.

If a figure cannot be agreed upon, it will fall to the Supreme Court Costs Office to make a decision.

Mr Moore said that whatever money was awarded would go into the bank "until this battle is won" and Holland House had been turned back into a nursing home.

A spokesperson for Partnerships in Care did not want to comment but confirmed that the company would work with the other parties to agree on a sum.

No one was available from PD Services to comment.