A Planning Inspector carried out unauthorised work at night on the sprawling home of Bermuda Housing Corporation (BHC) property officer Terrence Smith for which there was no planning permission, The Royal Gazette has learned.

Austin Simons is the Planning Inspector for Devonshire, but between April and June last year he carried out work on Mr. Smith's house in Tee Street, Devonshire.

The Royal Gazette revealed last week that Mr. Smith carried out a 5,899 square foot extension to his home even though the Planning Department had rejected his application.

Environment Permanent Secretary Brian Rowlinson confirmed yesterday that Mr. Simons worked on the roof framing for a 180 square foot extension of a master bedroom which went ahead without Planning permission.

Mr. Rowlinson said he was "very angry" that Mr. Simons' actions may have impugned his own reputation and that of the Planning Department and Civil Service.

He said the matter was being fully investigated and Director of Planning Rudolph Hollis will take "prompt action" when he returns to the Island.

Mr. Smith, a property officer at BHC, hit the headlines last month when a small contractor claimed he was kicked off BHC job sites after he charged Mr. Smith for work he carried out at the house in Tee Street.

Auditor General Larry Dennis is carrying out a full investigation into allegations of corruption and massive over-payments to contractors at BHC.

Seven accountants, a quantity surveyor and a painting contractor are going through all of BHC's contracts after it was revealed painter Paul Young was paid more than $800,000 for seven months' work last year.

It also emerged that Mr. Smith is running architectural design and building consultancy companies from his desk at BHC headquarters.

In a statement yesterday, Mr. Rowlinson said: "In accordance with the Code of Conduct and the Public Service Commission Regulations 2001, the Director must, on his return, consider the facts and circumstances in this case and report on what further action should be taken.

"This is a very serious matter. I can assure you it is being fully investigated and prompt action will be taken.

"I am very disappointed and very angry that Mr. Simons has unnecessarily put himself into a situation that impugns his reputation and the reputation of the Service, his Department and his colleagues."

He said Mr. Simons had no specific permission from the Planning Department for the work he carried out at Tee Street.

When asked if Planning Department employees working privately in the planning field contravened the Civil Service code of conduct, Mr. Rowlinson quoted the code, which states: "You should not engage in outside employment or in the conduct of a business, trade or profession without written authority from your head of department.

"Consideration of a request to engage in outside employment is made with regard to whether the outside employment would interfere with the proper performance of official duties and whether it could given rise to a conflict of interest."

He confirmed Mr. Simons is the planning inspector for Devonshire, but he said a colleague inspected the site at Tee Street where Mr. Smith carried out the work.

On March 22 this year, Mr. Rowlinson wrote to all staff informing them that they have to obtain written permission from their head of department for any outside work.

He said he was not aware of any other Planning Department staff working on Mr. Smith's house or BHC projects in a private capacity, but he is writing to them to ask.

Mr. Rowlinson said that according to Mr. Simons' report to Mr. Hollis, the Planning Inspector "worked after hours in a private capacity on erecting the roof framing for the garage, the east porch, the upper south-west roof and the extension to the master bedroom".

When The Royal Gazette called Mr. Simons for comment, he referred the newspaper to Mr. Hollis, who is on holiday, or acting Planning Director Nicky Gurret.

Ms Gurret passed a series of questions sent by the newspaper to Mr. Rowlinson who answered them.