Liberal Democrat Cllrs Garth Harkness and Diane Williamson have written to the Chief Executive of Oldham Council, Dr Carolyn Wilkins and the Leader of Oldham Council, Councillor Sean Fielding to complain about the way in which the decisions were made for applications to build on protected land in Saddleworth and green spaces in Sholver.

“A previous application in Royton was refused on the same grounds as what was proposed for the protected land in Saddleworth.  The professionalism of the meeting was that bad that it descended into a shambles, with members of the public not knowing what how the committee voted” said Councillor Garth Harkness.

Councillor Diane Williamson added “We have lodged a formal complaint on the grounds of unfairness and procedural impropriety due to the poor leadership of the meeting and decisions made that maybe constitutionally questionable and therefore legally questionable”.

LETTER BELOW:

Dear Carolyn and Sean

On Monday 1 July we attended the extraordinary Planning Committee to consider the following planning applications:

PA/342008/18 Land at Hodge Clough Road

PA/342030/18 Land at Pearly Bank

PA/343269/19 Land at Knowls Lane

Members of the public and ward Councillors came to listen to the debates on the various applications and also to speak in support of refusal for all three applications.  Members of the committee then asked questions to the speakers, ward Councillors and planning officers.

It was at this point the meeting descended into a shambles due to the inexperience of the chair and vice-chair. 

Hodge Clough Road – we tried to put forward a proposal for refusal on Hodge Clough Road and the chair appeared to not know how to take the proposal forward.  He asked for those in favour of refusal and we put our hands up.  Then he says all those for the development, which is a clear breach of the constitution because he did not ask members to vote on approving the refusal put forward.  He then asks for the approval of the planning application, without getting the refusal voted properly.  He declares the application refused and the members of the public cheer.  Lots of hasty conversations were had about it; incorrect numbers were given to the public on who voted how and on what proposal.  The legal officer then declared that there was no decision made.  A Councillor proposed it and the chair instructs someone to second it.  The chair changed his vote and a member of public asked him what had changed his mind.  Then he got the vote calculation incorrect then says the correct one; the head of planning confirms the correct result.

Knowles Lane – It became extremely unclear as to what Councillors were voting for and members of public at one stage clearly did not know or understand what was going because some of the comments made.   Thee chair tried proposing and seconding himself.  The Vice-chair then asks if members want to put forward a proposal to approve it which appeared to put pressure on members to put forward a proposal to approve.  The Chair at one point declared it as unanimous to approve but that was incorrect.

Therefore on the grounds of unfairness and procedural impropriety we are writing to make formal complaint about the unprofessionalism leadership of the meeting and decisions made that maybe constitutionally questionable and therefore legally questionable.

Yours sincerely

Cllr Garth Harkness (as a member of the Planning Committee) and Cllr Diane Williamson (as a substitute of the Planning Committee).