Planning Nightmare
Discussion
Equus said:
s2sol said:
I find it a bit odd that you did turn up at a meeting you had no business at...
I run a Planning consultancy.I have a clear professional interest in ensuring that the system is administered lawfully, and in a way that users can have faith in.
It's actually not unusual for me to attend Planning meetings I have no application of my own at, if I'm aware that there's something being discussed that might be of interest. I can quite legitimately claim expenses back from my business, and book the time against my CPD requirements (which I can't if I'm attending because we have one of our own applications before the committee).
princeperch said:
The only thing I would say is that if you did this to a councillor around where I lived, and then bowled up at a meeting as you've done here, you'd probably be met by him and all his cousins and brothers and be supporting a flyover on the M11 within a few hours. So pick your battles!
Ahh, so that's how things are done. princeperch said:
The only thing I would say is that if you did this to a councillor around where I lived, and then bowled up at a meeting as you've done here, you'd probably be met by him and all his cousins and brothers and be supporting a flyover on the M11 within a few hours. So pick your battles!
Sounds like there is even less chance of getting a fair and impartial decision there!princeperch said:
The only thing I would say is that if you did this to a councillor around where I lived, and then bowled up at a meeting as you've done here, you'd probably be met by him and all his cousins and brothers and be supporting a flyover on the M11 within a few hours. So pick your battles!
Oh wow 
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Local issues are a material Planning concern, certainly, but I see no reason that they couldn't be considered under the 'call-in' arrangement that I suggested above.Remember that there are three levels of appeal (written representations, hearing and public inquiry). It would be perfectly possible to apply the current system in such a way that if Local Councillors 'called in' a recommendation for a major scheme on the grounds of local issues, local residents could be given the opportunity to make representations at hearing or public inquiry. Indeed, there could be more scope for them to do this than with the current committee system, where usually a limited number of speakers only are allowed, for a limited (usually 3-minute) slot.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
I'm not saying that it was the same in the case you refer to, but the last village hall I did, personally, was asked for by the Parish as the 'price' of them supporting the application. Maybe I'm being cynical, but my experience is that Parish Councils like Village Halls more than new primary schools, because it gives them another asset for their own little empires, whilst schools fall outside their control...The problem with giving locals more of a say in the 'sweeteners' (which is the way it was in the 'old days' of Section 106 agreements) is that you are then accused of 'buying' the consent. Sometimes with full justification... it did often come down to that. S106 is often no more than legalised bribery/extortion.
The idea of CIL was at least partially to remove this. Standards are set to say what level of facilities are required per 1000 population, or whatever, and consistent CIL charges are applied across the board to pay for them... no 'sweeteners' on specific applications. In theory, it's more democratic.
s2sol said:
What you claim to have quoted isn't what I said. Granted, I edited my post at 20:57, and it might have taken you a couple of minutes to write your post.
It's what you originally said. Not my problem if you failed to edit your post quickly enough to prevent me quoting it. Not that it matters: you'd have got much the same response from me to your revised wording.
There comes a time when the point has been made, and the miscreant - in this case Colin - has been called out, named and royally shamed. But beyond that what? Stalk him to within an inch of his doorstep in case he doesn’t tip the cabbie?
I entirely get Equus’s angle as it’s the world he’s in - constantly battling the Planners one way or the other but there isn’t really a end game in this now so little point in pursuing other than for ‘amusement’ which could become a bit weird.
This is PH - a forum of nutters and Walts aplenty so it’s job done as far as I can see. He’s been exposed so ridicule and nearly lost his post so the lesson is taught.
I entirely get Equus’s angle as it’s the world he’s in - constantly battling the Planners one way or the other but there isn’t really a end game in this now so little point in pursuing other than for ‘amusement’ which could become a bit weird.
This is PH - a forum of nutters and Walts aplenty so it’s job done as far as I can see. He’s been exposed so ridicule and nearly lost his post so the lesson is taught.
V6 Pushfit said:
...there isn’t really a end game in this now
Well, the end game, as far as I see it, would be to ensure that Colin is removed from his position on the Huntingdonshire Planning Committee, as recommended by their Standards Committee.He has already justified another official complaint against himself, on the basis of his private response to me (which can be held, I think, to be behaviour likely to bring the Council into disrepute... we'll see if that one is upheld).
If nothing else, this thread should provide plenty of material for the local papers to quote from.
V6 Pushfit said:
There comes a time when the point has been made, and the miscreant - in this case Colin - has been called out, named and royally shamed. But beyond that what? Stalk him to within an inch of his doorstep in case he doesn’t tip the cabbie?
I entirely get Equus’s angle as it’s the world he’s in - constantly battling the Planners one way or the other but there isn’t really a end game in this now so little point in pursuing other than for ‘amusement’ which could become a bit weird.
This is PH - a forum of nutters and Walts aplenty so it’s job done as far as I can see. He’s been exposed so ridicule and nearly lost his post so the lesson is taught.
It is a very fair to ask if this is the right place to be discussing it. Probably not.I entirely get Equus’s angle as it’s the world he’s in - constantly battling the Planners one way or the other but there isn’t really a end game in this now so little point in pursuing other than for ‘amusement’ which could become a bit weird.
This is PH - a forum of nutters and Walts aplenty so it’s job done as far as I can see. He’s been exposed so ridicule and nearly lost his post so the lesson is taught.
However councillor Collin SHOULD step down as he has demonstrated that he won't make rational, impartial decisions which carry significant consequences for both ordinary people and business.
I'm disappointed his own council haven't forced the issue but, failing this, I'm glad Equus is principled enough to pursue it further*
- Im assuming it is driven by public spirit not small mindedness!
Rewe said:
Im assuming it is driven by public spirit not small mindedness!
Bloody mindedness, probably. 
But driven by a belief that our Planning system can be as fair and equitable as it's possible to make such a complex decision-making process if but only if the public can have faith that it's being administered properly.
Equus said:
Rewe said:
Im assuming it is driven by public spirit not small mindedness!
Bloody mindedness, probably. But driven by a belief that our Planning system can be as fair and equitable as it's possible to make such a complex decision-making process if but only if the public can have faith that it's being administered properly.
I sense years of resentment and frustration being exorcised - and who can blame him.
I see this as a big shot across the bow. And who can say that isn't well overdue?
There is always talk of brown paper envelopes when stuff goes awry and i'm sure that is rarely true - it's just a screwed up system that needs sorting or at least people that administrate it according to the actual blo0dy rules.
Its about championing accountability so I don't mind the enthusiasm and updates! And actually having the balls to walk the talk.
I see this as a big shot across the bow. And who can say that isn't well overdue?
There is always talk of brown paper envelopes when stuff goes awry and i'm sure that is rarely true - it's just a screwed up system that needs sorting or at least people that administrate it according to the actual blo0dy rules.
Its about championing accountability so I don't mind the enthusiasm and updates! And actually having the balls to walk the talk.
Ken Figenus said:
I sense years of resentment and frustration being exorcised - and who can blame him.
I see this as a big shot across the bow. And who can say that isn't well overdue?
There is always talk of brown paper envelopes when stuff goes awry and i'm sure that is rarely true - it's just a screwed up system that needs sorting or at least people that administrate it according to the actual blo0dy rules.
Its about championing accountability so I don't mind the enthusiasm and updates! And actually having the balls to walk the talk.
Agreed. For those of us who have suffered the lack of professional judgement from parish councils, this is most welcome.I see this as a big shot across the bow. And who can say that isn't well overdue?
There is always talk of brown paper envelopes when stuff goes awry and i'm sure that is rarely true - it's just a screwed up system that needs sorting or at least people that administrate it according to the actual blo0dy rules.
Its about championing accountability so I don't mind the enthusiasm and updates! And actually having the balls to walk the talk.
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