The Planning Inspectorate (PINS) has reintroduced ex-gratia payments for people who have suffered injustice due to an acknowledged error by the Inspectorate.
The organisation had closed its ex-gratia payment scheme and the reintroduction was prompted by a report from the Parliamentary and Health Ombudsman.
The Ombudsman looked at how the Planning Inspectorate handled four complaints about errors it had made. In each case the Planning Inspectorate declined to compensate for mistakes which had caused extra costs to be incurred.
Dame Julie Mellor, the Parliamentary Ombudsman, said: ‘Individuals must not bear the cost of Government errors. The Planning Inspectorate’s decision not to compensate individuals who were left out of pocket because of the Inspectorate’s own mistakes was unfair, unjust and a false economy. ‘
In a statement the Planning Inspectorate said it ‘fully accepted ‘ the Ombudsman’s report. ‘The decisions we make every day affect communities and individuals and we recognise the detrimental impact it can have when we get those decisions wrong.
‘As a result of this report, we have reviewed all claims for compensation and apologised to everyone who was disadvantaged by the withdrawal of ex-gratia payments. We also made payments, where appropriate. ‘
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