Peterborough: City Lib Dems demand answers on exclusion from Planning (East of England Regional Assembly Group)

East of England Regional Assembly Group <info@eeralibdems.org.uk>

Peterborough: City Lib Dems demand answers on exclusion from Planning

October 28, 2006 12:00 PM

According to sources, the Queens Counsel has now confirmed the Tory administrations decision to exclude Lib Dems from the Councils planning committee was incorrect. Now, Cllr John Crane tells us he awaits answers to his questions regarding the cost of conferring and in relation to the legality of planning decisions made, during which there was no Lib Dem representation:

After the Tory administration decided to remove Lib Dem representation from the planning committee, Liberal Democrats pushed hard for a reinstatement, highlighting to the Chief Executive that the council committee was not properly proportional ...as is required by law.

At a recent full council meeting, Liberal Democrat city councillor and fully trained planning spokesperson, Cllr John Crane asked through the Mayor to be supplied with the cost of taking Queen's Counsel's advice on whether or not the Planning Committee was lawfully constituted without a Lib Dem membership.

The Councils Chief Executive replied (through the Mayor) that the information would be sent to him.

In response, Cllr Crane requested the information be supplied to all members.

Cllr Crane also questioned whether or not decisions made by the Planning Committee whilst Lib Dem membership was excluded, were in fact unlawful?

Apparently, the reply was "..we think so, but are taking Counsel's advice on this too."

Cllr John Crane, who has now been reinstated on the Planning Committee said:

"The cost of the Tory administration playing politics with Council Tax payers money has yet to be established, and there is a deafening silence in answer to my request to be advised of the cost.

"The question of the legality of decisions made by the Planning Committee whilst not proportionally constituted has yet to be established, and I hope that the advice to be received does not invalidate decisions made during that period.

"If the Tories had put the needs of the City's Council Tax payers before petty politics, then ordinary people would not have to pick up the tab for the costs!"