5 November (Part 2) - This anti-democratic Government
Not my words but those of Conservative Councillor June Slaughter (Sidcup) on
hearing from Cabinet Member Cameron Smith how neither residents not Councillors
will get much of a say over future planning applications. Crazy schemes like the
Crook Log Golf Pods will go sailing through because Bexley’s Planning
Departments does not
always scrutinise schemes with any degree of skill and the Committe can be
circumvented.
Cameron did not mince his words; he could reasonably have mentioned Kim Jong Un
but stopped a whisker short of doing so. Labour’s tyranny is in a similar ball park.
A big change is coming for Planning, not just in Bexley but throughout England.
“After the Prime Minister promised to put more power into the hands of the
people he does precisely the opposite. Elected Councillors have been stripped
of their planning powers. Small applications, extensions, conversions to HMOs
and building up to nine homes can no longer be put before a Planning Committee.
If residents have concerns they no longer have an avenue through which to voice
them. An enormous change.”
Larger schemes may go to Committee if they meet defined statutory tests but
residents will not be able to put forward objections. Larger applications are
subject to veto by Sadiq Khan. If there are more than 50 homes or any are to be
built on the Green Belt he now has greater powers than before.
“It is entirely undemocratic and unnecessary.” Last year 53 applications went to
Committee out of more than 2,000 and sometimes residents objections saw
Officer recommendations overturned. “That can no longer happen and is fundamentally undemocratic.”
Cameron claimed that Planning Officers listened to residents which does not
really fit recent facts when residents were ignored in favour of an
applicant’s unscientific claims. Nevertheless Cameron’s objections are valid. Labour
has once again ridden rough-shod over democracy.
The Planning Committee Chairman, Kurtis Kristoforides made similar points in a
rather more restrained fashion.
Councillor Slaughter who has lived through the same number of Prime Ministers as I have myself
clearly shared my opinion of them. The latest incarnation is perhaps the worst
of the lot. How can anyone with a functioning brain support and vote for this so called Labour Party? She hoped this latest example of Labour tyranny will
translate into more votes for the Conservatives.
David Leaf, the Council Leader, said that on the very day that these changes came into force,
he received a letter from Government assuring him that it knew that Councils know their communities best.
How many of our rogue developer’s retrospective applications will the Planning
Office be able to conceal or grant in future?