Planners' vote to be rerun

The director of the Town and Country Planning Association has resigned amid allegations of ballot rigging which have forced the rerun of elections to its board, writes Louise Jury.

Tim Cordy, the paid head of the body which represents local authorities and other planning officials, stood down after voting irregularities were found. Questions were raised after the results in a bundle of papers which arrived late on the last day of the ballot were significantly different from the rest. Mr Cordy accepts responsibility for failing to run the vote properly. The ballot papers had not been numbered.

The Electoral Reform Society has been asked to oversee a new ballot of the 750 members, voting on a new smaller board to replace the management council.