Council’s MD Rejects AONB Planning Application Complaint

Published on: 7 Sep, 2016
Updated on: 9 Sep, 2016

Accusations of impropriety by councillors taking part in a Guildford Borough Council (GBC) Planning Committee debate have been rejected by the council’s managing director, Sue Sturgeon.

Dominic Crolla had complained about the handling of a planning application to build two new houses at 1 Little Warren Close.

Map showing location of 1 Little Warren Close site in Guildford

In a letter dated August 30, and addressed to the council leader Paul Spooner (Con, Ash South & Tongham), Cllr David Wright (Con, Tillingbourne) and copied to Anne Milton MP, all borough councillors, The Surrey Advertiser and The Guildford Dragon NEWS, Mr Crolla wrote: “As residents of Little Warren Close, One Tree Hill Road and Downside we are writing jointly in this letter to register our astonishment and disappointment at the manner in which the decision to approve the proposal for 1 Little Warren Close (16/00698) was taken at the Planning Committee meeting held on 10th August 2016.

“Specifically we were concerned and surprised at the following:

the way the application was presented to councillors by the case officer;
the failure to correct inaccuracies and misleading comments from the applicant’s agent; and
the manner of the debate, including the behavior and demeanour of several of the councillors during the debate.”

Mr Crolla then detailed observations that had led to each area of complaint and concluded: “When this is all taken into account, along with the behaviour of some of the councillors, we can only draw the conclusion that the process followed in this case was flawed, unprofessional and that a rigorous analysis and debate of the key points in favour of, and against, the proposal was not undertaken.

“For the sake of the integrity of the planning process available to Guildford residents and businesses alike, we urge you to undertake a review of the process adopted in this specific case, and the decision reached and to establish a proper and transparent decision making process in future.

“Responding to the three areas of complaint in turn. Ms Sturgeon wrote: Michael Parker, a senior planner in East team was the presenting officer… [he] is very experienced… I am confident that councillors had all the necessary facts before them on the night to make a decision.

The opening part of the letter from Sue Sturgeon, managing director at GBC, in response to a complaint about the handling of a planning application at 1 Little Warren Close, Guildford

Regarding the alleged failure to correct inaccurate statements made by the applicant’s agent, a Mr Connelly, Ms Sturgeon admitted that a mistake was made. She wrote: “… I can empathise with your anger over the designation point he made however the case officer felt that it was clear on the night that the site was within the AONB… In hindsight, I accept it would have been helpful for the lead officer or case officer (Zac Ellwood or Michael Parker) to correct the inaccurate comment made regarding the sites designation and I am sorry that this did not happen…”

But Ms Sturgeon strongly rejected that the conduct of the debate was inappropriate. She wrote: “I have also reviewed the webcast and I am sorry to say that I cannot agree with you that councillors conduct was unacceptable… To infer that councillors had already made up their minds I cannot accept and strongly refute. I take such an accusation very seriously indeed. If you have evidence that this is the case then you should present it to me…”

She concluded: “Having reviewed that matter fully, I am satisfied that due and proper process was correctly followed and nothing untoward occurred during the presentation or debate of the item. I see no need for an independent review of the matter. In terms of next steps should you feel so strongly that the council has made an incorrect/ flawed decision then you can challenge the decision in the courts…”