THE trouble-shooter who is leading an investigation into Poole council’s planning procedures is due to submit his report in a matter of weeks.

Top civil servant Sir Michael Pitt was called in by the Borough of Poole following widespread and persistent rumours over planning issues and has been carrying out a series of interviews with councillors and officers over the past two months.

Significant numbers of residents and developers have contacted him since the Daily Echo blew the whistle on the secret review and residents’ associations have urged him to meet them as part of his inquiry.

The Daily Echo understands that he will meet representatives of Brank-some Park, Canford Cliffs and District, Broadstone and Hamside (Hamworthy) residents associations before the end of the month.

In a letter to residents, Sir Michael said: “I am well aware of rumours circulating locally but, as yet, have not had any meaningful evidence dra-wn to my attention to substantiate unlawful activity.”

He said he had become aware of requests for changes in the way the council engaged with residents and developers and undertook its development control responsibilities and was seeking views on this.

John Sprackling, chairman of Branksome Park, Canford Cliffs and District Residents Association, is one of those invited to submit written views and also to meet Sir Michael.

Asked what he hoped the end result of the review would be, he said: “I feel little will be resolved but we can hope for an end to these persistent rumours.”

Council bosses felt they had no choice but to act following months of rumours and allegations and fear that whatever the outcome, the issue will be damaging to the authority.

A Poole council spokes-man said: “Sir Michael Pitt has concluded his planned interviews, inclu-ding those with senior officers and councillors.

“He is also taking due regard of submissions received from interested members of the public. It is anticipated that Sir Michael will be in a position to report his findings by the end of January wh-ich will be the subject of public report in due course.”