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Cllr Heather Johnson |
Planning boss attacked
PLANNING chairwoman Labour councillor Heather Johnson
has been forced to defend her position yet again after criticism
of the way the King’s Cross applications were dealt with.
She has been asked to explain why she stopped Conservative councillor
Don Williams putting questions and, as the possibility of a
postponement was discussed, decided to tell members: “If
you’re talking about deferral that means it comes back
after the election.”
Opponents said May’s council elections should not have
been a consideration. Cllr Johnson said the comment was not
meant as a political point but was made purely in practical
terms.
She told the New Journal that an adjournment would have delayed
a final decision until after the elections, when at least two
members of the committee will no longer be on the council.
Cllr Johnson said: “What you would have ended up with is
a much smaller group of councillors taking a decision on these
large applications.”
The controversy comes with the Labour Party still trying to
patch up an internal split on the role ousted planning chairman
Brian Woodrow, Cllr Johnson’s experienced predecessor,
played at Thursday’s meeting.
The New Journal understands that several senior Labour councillors
begged Cllr Woodrow to withdraw from the meeting right up until
it began and even during breaks in the discussions.
He is the subject of a still-unresolved Standards Board investigation
triggered by allegations that he is biased against the redevelopment.
Party bosses feel his participation could have jeopardised the
scheme. Cllr Woodrow, who voted against the development, declined
to comment on the case but has always insisted he is innocent.
Cllr Williams confirmed on Tuesday that he has written to council
chief executive Moira Gibb about how the meetings last week
were handled.
He said: “I wanted to participate but I was shouted down.
I feel the debate was stifled.” |
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