Topic: | Re:Re:Re:Re:Re: STENCH of the TORIES PREVAILS | |
Posted by: | Phil Andrews | |
Date/Time: | 21/09/11 11:18:00 |
"I think a more productive way forward would be (to) question the actions of Environment since the approval, given it has the improved powers. Perhaps a proper Scrutiny into the matter is called for." I agree with thisentirely in as far as it goes, however I do not think we should look at Environment's actions following approval in isolation from the department's conduct before and during the meeting. Nobody would appear to have picked up on the significance of Environment trying to lobby me prior to the meeting in an attempt to sell me the case for approval. Two important points need to be kept in mind here: #1. It would be unlawful for any officer of the council to try to lobby a member of the SDC in an effort to persuade him or her to vote in a particular way. #2. It would be unlawful for the leader of a political group on the council to exert pressure on any member of his or her group to vote in a particular way at SDC. I was lobbied by two very senior officers of the council in my capacity as Leader of the Community Group, one of them at Environment. Of course, as I was not at that time a member of SDC #1 would not apply. So what, then, was the point in trying to bend my ear? Unless, of course, the object of the exercise was to try to induce scenario #2. A scenario in which, if I had played ball, I would have been conducting myself in an unlawful way. One must then ask why there was considered to be a need to lobby me in the first place. The role of officers in planning matters is to present the facts as they are, to give advice as honestly and impartiality as is possible under the circumstances, and then to leave the decision to the elected members at SDC. I cannot prove any of the above which is why I have not named names, but I believe you know the identities of the two officers concerned and they could not have been more senior. If we can get to the bottom of why a vote of approval was considered so important to these two officers we may have half a chance of identifying the other stench that has pervaded this issue for too long. |