|
|
 |
| |
| Planning chief’s fury at
sacking |
Supporters claim campaign is behind
axing
Cllr Brian Woodrow |
ONE of the longest-serving Labour councillors at the Town Hall
has been ousted from his top job as planning chairman in a “night
of the long knives” ballot.
Councillor Brian Woodrow, who is facing an investigation by the
Standards Board, a government watchdog, over his handling of the
£2 billion redevelopment of King’s Cross, was stripped
of his position at a Labour group meeting on Monday night.
He was on the wrong end of a 20-13 vote which saw ex-mayor Councillor
Heather Johnson take control of the planning committee.
But supporters claim Cllr Woodrow has been the victim of an organised
campaign to remove him after extracts of an interim report prepared
by the Standards Board saying he should be prevented from chairing
meetings were circulated among members just days before the crucial
vote.
Cllr Woodrow’s camp says the report is premature, unfair and
an attack on his integrity.
His lawyers are now planning to go to the High Court in a bid to
have the interim report withdrawn.
Cllr Woodrow was reported to the Standards Board in February by
Town Hall legal chief Alison Lowton amid accusations that he had
shown bias in his approach to planning applications at King’s
Cross, site of Europe’s largest building project.
Cllr Woodrow, who has 15 years experience at the Town Hall, denied
the claims and has continued to chair planning meetings and handle
King’s Cross applications while an investigation into his conduct
has been carried out.
A final Standards Board report has yet to be released but interim
findings were unexpectedly published last week.
His supporters are angry that Councillor Dame Jane Roberts –
the former Labour group leader – circulated extracts of the
interim findings to every Labour councillor. Leaked e-mails reveal
how Cllr Roberts insisted that the report, albeit interim, should
be taken seriously.
When one backbench member said the report should be ignored, she
sent a second group e-mail which said: “I am afraid that life
is not so simple. Whatever people’s views about the SBE (Standards
Board), it is the legitimate body that currently rules on councillors’
conduct and hence we must take its findings with great seriousness.
“A clear finding that our Chair of Development Control has
breached the Code of Conduct on the largest development – one
of national strategic importance – in the borough simply cannot
be ignored. As a Labour Group, and as a Council, we would rightly
be viewed with ridicule that would do lasting damage both to Labour
in Camden and Camden Council.”
Cllr Woodrow, who survived an initial challenge for his post from
Cllr Johnson at a group meeting in May, said “I deplore the
attacks on my personal integrity and will continue the fight to
clear my name”.
He has sent an e-mail – a copy of which has been obtained by
the New Journal – to all councillors outlining his position.
He said: “My solicitor has been in intense correspondence with
the SBE about their handling of the case. It is unfair and in breach
of the rules of natural justice.
“They should not issue any report unless the issues are investigated
fully and fairly. For example, they have failed to provide relevant
documents; refused to interview witnesses I wished to call; concealed
other relevant material until forced to disclose it by threat of
legal action; and refused to give me sufficient time to respond.” |
|
It’s time for ‘sell by’ dates on wines
TELEVISION chef Rick Stein claimed in The Daily Telegraph in August
that “the wine revolution that had swept this country was leaving
the French behind,” ....
FULL STORY
A local team for local people
WE all know the lengths football fans will go to to support their
team...
FULL STORY
|
