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Subject: RE: Reply to Councillor Mann

Author: Anthony P Berend Date: 11/1/2001 10:39 am WEDT

Cllr Mann

I know that my questions are embarrassing to the Lib Dems whom you represent. You must not however hide behind false excuses.

Your membership of the development control committee only requires you to consider current applications on planning grounds and when all the facts are before you. You are attempting to take this too far and as a lawyer you know it.

My first question was

“Why :-

is that the Council is giving away the Riverside site valued at Ł6m for a Ł1 a year”.

This question has nothing what so ever to do with planning. Your membership of the committee does not forbid you to have a view on this matter or to voice such views.

My second question was

“Why :-

is the Council removing another area of public open space from access by the public. In this case a most valuable - environmental area of river frontage. One of the most important assets of our borough”.

While this question is in part a planning matter it does not effect the application recently submitted. The application is for the building of shops flats and a cinema. Your consideration as a member of the committee is – “are the committee for or against this particular scheme taking into consideration all the relevant factors”.

My question was a question of policy. A decision not put to the development control committee and never considered by them nor I believe able to be put to that committee. Once the policy to dispose of Public Open space is made it is then one of the factors you as a member of the committee take into account when considering an application.

To put it in your terms. If you agree with the policy or not when considering the application you MUST as a member of the committee take the policy into account as a reason for GRANTING consent. However strongly you may appose a policy in a personnel capacity as a member of the Dev. Control Committee when considering an application which complies with the policy you must support the application.

If you do not agree with this principle it means that a Councillor on the Development Control Committee would be unable to speak on virtually any matter at Council, at any other committee or outside body.

Let me give an example. If you were a governor of a school [which I am sure you are] and the Governors of that school were debating whether they needed a new building or not. Are you saying that you could not comment because at some stage an application may come before a Dev, Control committee?

Clearly this is a nonsense. As a lawyer you know that it is a nonsense.

Be brave - be honest - give us your views.

Answer the questions.

That you are a member of the Development Control committee is a lame excuse for your silence.

Anthony P Berend.

PS. I went to bed early last night. - Maybe that is why you had a boring evening !!

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