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Cllr Phil Kelly |
GUNNERS IN SECRET DEAL ON COACHES
Town Hall boss bypasses councillors to give parking go-ahead
ARSENAL Football Club have brokered a secret deal with Islington Council’s civil servants to allow them to continue to park coaches in streets around the Emirates Stadium – bypassing councillors’ restrictions on matchday traffic.
John Foster, the chief executive at the Town Hall, stands accused of striking a backroom deal with the Gunners after signing an order effectively overturning rules fixed by a body of elected councillors.
The sudden agreement was reached behind closed doors just as a planning inquiry began looking into Arsenal’s appeal for coach parking in the Sobell Centre, Hornsey Street and Drayton Street.
Permission to park in the streets was turned down by planning councillors in March amid concern for residents in Highbury who say their peace is shattered by rowdy soccer fans.
But the council’s barrister Gregory Jones made a shock announcement at the inquiry at the Crescent Suite in Ronalds Road on Tuesday that Islington is no longer opposing Arsenal’s bid for coach parking.
Mr Foster signed the deal under delegated powers, but the timing of when he agreed to it, who was involved in the private negotiations and what roles local politicians played, is unclear. The move came as a surprise to the planning committee’s chairman, Councillor Phil Kelly. He said: “I was shocked to find the council had decided not to give evidence against the plans to park coaches near homes on match days. This application was thrown out at the East Area planning committee in March and has not been back to the committee since. The public have not been consulted on this and it’s been done by the back door.
“The Liberal Democrats have done a dirty deal on coach parking at residents’ expense and behind our backs.”
For the past three years the club has applied for temporary permission to park coaches in residential streets. But Cllr Kelly told planning inspector William Cunningham that the panel finally ran out of patience in March.
He said: “We were just fed up of giving annual temporary permission. Arsenal have been short-sighted and selfish.
“They will have to stop supporters coming in coaches to games – their own supporters and
away supporters.”
Cllr Kelly urged the club to consider using Finsbury Park as an alternative.
The committee rejected the club’s application to be allowed to continue to park coaches close to Highbury homes and was told to come back with a more permanent solution.
But Arsenal appealed the verdict, leading to the inquiry.
Roger Wright, of the Highbury Community Association, said residents had offered to meet councillors and Arsenal to discuss a compromise but that no one had contacted them. He added: “I was at all the meetings and I don’t believe council officers were granted delegated powers to negotiate with Arsenal the way they have. We were shocked. I feel it’s a complete betrayal. It in no way reflects the spirit of what was agreed with the community.”
Chris Eisen, who lives in Drayton Park, said: “What buffer prevents someone pulling down their trousers and urinating in our gardens? What will stop them throwing rubbish, being sick there?”
Arsenal insisted on going ahead with the appeal because it will be resolved more quickly than if they submit a new planning application.
Council leader and lead member for Arsenal Cllr Terry Stacy said that convincing the club to a new agreement to park 14 coaches in Queensland Road was a major coup and gave reason for a compromise.
He added: “This is a good deal for Islington residents. The council has managed to convince Arsenal to park up to 14 coaches at Queensland Road during and post construction of the new leisure centre and housing development. The average number of coaches at any game is around 19, so for the majority of games we anticipate that only Queensland Road and the Sobell will used for coach parking. In exceptional circumstances, when there are additional coaches, these may park at Drayton Park and Hornsey Street. All of this is subject to the decision of the Planning Inspector.”
The inquiry was expected to undertake a site inspection last night (Thursday), and Mr Cunningham promised to return with a verdict by September 24.
Goal! The action replay
HOW Islington Council explained their decision to allow coaches to park in residential streets around the Emirates:
*“Article 14, Part 2, paragraph 14.03 of the Council’s Constitution authorises the Corporate Director of Resources (Louise Round) to institute, defend, participate in or settle any legal proceedings in any case where such action is necessary to give effect to decisions of the Council or in any case where the Corporate Director of Resources and /or the Chief Executive considers that such action is necessary to protect the Council’s interests.”
*“Legal proceedings includes “quasi-judicial” and other formal administrative processes involving application of national and local policies, reference to legislation and case law along with rules of procedure ( i.e. planning appeals). “
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“Following the 23rd July East Area Planning Committee the Principal Planning Lawyer (Penny Parkinson) of Islington Council’s Legal Services sought authority of the Corporate Director of Resources to authorise the Director of Legal Services (Debra Norman) to make any decisions that may be required in connection with the Council’s position regarding the Coach Parking Appeals for the week commencing Monday 27th July 2009. It is unfortunate, but unavoidable, that both the Corporate Director of Resources and Director of Law are not in the office between Monday 26th- Wednesday 29th July (inclusive).”
“The Chief Executive therefore has under the Constitution Part 2, Article 14, paragraph 14.03(detailed above in paragraph 1) exercised authority in the absence of the Corporate Director of Resources to agree the Council’s position in respect of the Coach Parking appeals. The Council agreed position is to accept the modification of Appeal b (detailed in paragraph 8 above).” |
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