OPPOSITION Tory members on Warrington Borough Council have raised concerns regarding the Development Management Committee’s (DMC‘s) ability to deal fairly with the controversial Six56 application on Green Belt land in the south of the borough, following a “private” meeting between developers and members of the committee.
Cllr. Kath Buckley (Conservative group leader), Cllr. Val Allen (Conservative Group Deputy Leader) and Cllr. Ken Critchley (Conservatives Appleton), have raised a number of concerns relating to the DMC’s consideration of the Six:56 proposals due to take place at the town hall tomorrow, Thursday, although the council say briefing sessions followed published guidelines and are without prejudice.
In a joint statement the Tory members said: “We are concerned to note that, the applicant was afforded a significant private briefing opportunity to members of the DMC, we understand the duration of this meeting was in the region of two hours. This meeting had no public participation.
“Whilst those opposed to the development are being restricted, we believe to three, three-minute opportunities (Nine minutes in total) to raise their concerns regarding this enormous development within the greenbelt of South Warrington.
“How can this disproportionate access to the DMC be considered a fair and balanced way for the DMC’s members to consider this development, when members of the committee have not had the same opportunity to listen to those groups who oppose this development?
“Why have the DMC allowed themselves to be placed in a position where their ability to impartially weigh the Proposal is now subject to question and doubt?
“The DMC is formed of elected members of the council, they have a duty under the Seven Nolan Principles of Public Life to act, with integrity and objectivity, they have to weigh the pros and cons of the proposed development carefully and decide if the development should be allowed to proceed or not. Why have the developers representatives been given disproportionate access to the members of the DMC?
“We call upon the Council to urgently review the practice of allowing private developer briefings to members of the DMC. We understand this practice of closed private briefings to be contrary to the Probity in Planning best practice guidance.
“We call upon the members of the DMC who feel that they may have been unduly influenced in favour of the development to abstain or stand down from the meeting and appoint a substitute.
“We would also encourage members if they believe there has been pressure applied upon them to vote in any particular way, to raise their concerns with the Monitoring Officer of the Council and potentially abstain from voting.
“This is not a political committee, voting should not be along party lines but based on each member carefully considering if the development should be approved or not. In this particular case does the proposal meet the, “very special circumstances test”, for development of Green Belt land.
“We would also remind the members this is an elected member decision not a decision of the officers.
“We are also concerned that given the significant public interest that the meeting is being held in the Town Hall Council Chamber rather than in the Parr Hall or other large alternative venue.
A Warrington Borough Council spokesperson responded: “Briefing sessions are managed in accordance with published guidelines, taking account of Planning Advisory Service advice and legislation (the Localism Act).
“These briefing sessions are without prejudice but are helpful when introducing councillors to the details of planning applications. They do not form part of the decision making process and all representations are considered and taken into account before decisions are made. In accordance with published guidelines, matters discussed within the briefing session are referenced within the public committee report for transparency.
“The council, as Local Planning Authority, acts independently to support decision-makers with the necessary access to information to make informed, reasonable and defensible decisions.”
Meanwhile explaining the decision on why the meeting can not be moved the spokesperson added: “We are unable to move the meeting to the Parr Hall given the current art installation, but in holding the planning application in the council chamber we are able to accommodate all those who wish to speak at the committee meeting.
“Importantly, the meeting will also be broadcast live through the council website – via warrington.gov.uk/committees – for people to be able to also follow the meeting online.”
As reported previously Warrington Borough Council officers are recommending approval, despite a previous application on nearby land by Stobarts being thrown out by the Secretary of State on green belt grounds.
Council unable to move Six56 planning application to larger venue due to art installation
