Toilet trip during key debate seen as tactical

THE bitter “bias” row over the redevelopment of King’s Cross has taken a bizarre twist with claims that under-fire planning boss Councillor Brian Woodrow took a tactical toilet break during a key debate.
Cllr Woodrow, Camden Council’s Labour planning chairman for the past seven years, ignored Town Hall legal advice and chaired two agenda items connected with King’s Cross at Thursday’s planning meeting.
He commented on facelift plans for St Pancras Chambers in Euston Road and even provided photographs of the site from his private collection to be shown to decision-making councillors.
But he left the Town Hall chamber for two minutes as his committee discussed the St Pancras proposals. He later told the meeting his short toilet break automatically excluded him from any vote on the scheme.
The project was supported unanimously, but Cllr Woodrow’s ambiguous role in the discussion has muddied attempts by council chiefs to keep tabs on his behaviour in the run-up to a Standards Board inquiry.
Borough Solicitor Alison Lowton called in the council watchdog in February amid concerns that Cllr Woodrow had unfairly commented publicly on the £2 billion planning blueprint for land behind King’s Cross and St Pancras station before the brief reached his committee.
Cllr Woodrow rejects the claims but Ms Lowton has warned that he may no longer be seen as impartial when chairing crunch discussions.
Although Thursday’s application was not directly related to the plans submitted by developer Argent, Cllr Woodrow’s decision to remain in the chairman’s hot seat during the session went against council advice that he should bow out of all applications affecting the area.
Cllr Woodrow insisted his short break from Thursday’s meeting was genuinely to go to the toilet. But a Labour ally said afterwards: “It was a bit of sleight of hand by Brian. It was tactical and keeps it simmering. He feels strongly he shouldn’t be bullied. He may seem mild-mannered but he is sticking to his guns and won’t let go.”
A council press official said: “We can confirm St Pancras Chambers is within the King’s Cross Opportunity Area and therefore the advice previously given to Cllr Woodrow is relevant. The matter is with the Standards Board and it is therefore inappropriate for the council to comment any further at this stage.”