Alice Lester, Brent Council's Director of Regeneration, Growth and Employment, has refused the request to recluse some councillors or defer the Mumbai Junction item.
In an email she wrote:
You have requested a stage 2 review of your complaint, and also that some members of the planning committee are recused from consideration of the planning application reference 22/3260, 231 Watford Road.
You also suggest that the application should be deferred from the committee as given this request for a stage 2 review, the complaints process is ongoing.
The Council’s position is that the investigation into the stage 1 complaint demonstrated that the planning application can be considered by the committee as currently constituted, and a sound decision is able to be made. A stage 2 complaint investigation does not outweigh the process of determining planning applications in a timely manner.
If a person sufficiently affected by the planning decision believes that the decision is legally flawed, the correct process to follow is to challenge it via a judicial review.
The complaints team will progress the stage 2 review on behalf of the Chief Executive.
Just what one would expect from Brent. Why do they not just get rid of the Commitee anyway? Maybe it's to make Councillors feel important
ReplyDeleteTypical Brent Council answer - we do what we want to and if you don't like it seek a Judicial Review!!!
ReplyDeleteThen the Council will spend tens of thousands of Council taxpayers money on lawyers to find a legal loophole so that they win - and if they don't win they will spend more Council taxpayers money to pay your legal fees as well.
Just like the london mayor they can do what we like a law unto themselves I’m sure the money involved in legalities will be found somewhere close by like barham park we have no say in the matter I think it’s a done deal I’m going to the betting shop see if I can win a few pounds
ReplyDeleteCouncillors get paid more money in allowances to sit on the planning committee - as they are mostly Labour Councillors on the planning committee they won’t do away with the planning committee as the Labour Party get more money for their election campaign.
ReplyDeleteOne solution - vote Labour out in the next local elections.
We need a better balanced Council to reflect the concerns of us residents.