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| Ousted chief: ‘Fight goes
on’ |
Ex-planning chief goes out with
a bang
OUSTED planning chairman Brian Woodrow went out with a bang on
Thursday, defiantly dismissing claims that he was biased against
the £2 billion redevelopment of the King’s Cross railway
land and vowing to clear his name.
Taking control of his final meeting in charge of the council’s
development committee, the Labour councillor said: “I have
at all times sought to protect the interests of the public within
the legal restraints of the planning system.”
Members from all parties and officials paid tribute at the start
to his work during a marathon seven-year stint in the planning hot-seat,
revealing the deep divisions amongst councillors that his sacking
has caused at the Town Hall.
Cllr Woodrow has spent months fighting a Standards Board charge
into his conduct following a claim by Borough Solicitor Alison Lowton
that he could not be seen to be impartial when dealing with applications
concerned with the massive facelift planned for King’s Cross.
He was ditched by his own Labour colleagues earlier this month in
a private vote which saw former mayor and ex-head of licensing Councillor
Heather Johnson win control of the committee.
Conservative councillor Dawn Somper told Thursday’s meeting:
“You (Cllr Woodrow) taught me everything I know about planning,
you made it open to all parties. It is a fact that the committee
was in safe hands with you, I’m thinking of leaving the country.”
Cllr Johnson watched but did not comment as Cllr Woodrow was showered
with praise and was thanked with a ripple of applause.
Lib Dem councillor Flick Rea added: “I don’t believe that
Brian made any decisions that were not in the interests in the residents
of the borough. At times it pained him to have to make hard decisions,
others were easier, but he always had the public’s best interests
at heart. We shall miss him. He will be a hard act to follow.”
Labour councillor Jake Sumner said: “Planning has an important
function. Brian has made sure where possible it is open and transparent.
Dare I say, we made right decisions on this committee with him as
the chairman.”
It was not just councillors who took the opportunity to pay tribute
to Cllr Woodrow – senior Town Hall official Tim Cronin, head
of the council’s planning department, also added his commendation.
He said: “I’ve been here four years and I’d like
to thank you. We do appreciate the guidance and advice you have
given us.”
The manner of Cllr Woodrow’s sacking is likely to remain a
prickly issue for Camden’s Labour group with the beaten planning
chairman appealing against the Standard’s Board findings that
he should not be allowed to manage future meetings. He also plans
to stay on the committee as a regular member, raising the question
of whether he could demand a role in the King’s Cross applications
due to progress through the Town Hall next year.
He said: “I never was biased and I am not biased in respect
of King’s Cross or any other applications that come before
us. I have deplored the attacks that have been made on my personal
integrity. I will very much miss the good-natured positive working
atmosphere that I know has greatly helped to bring about the service’s
improved performance standards that have been achieved, particularly
in the last year.”
He thanked Cllr Somper and commended the work of previous vice-chairmen
Cllr Sumner and Cllr Sue Vincent.
Cllr Woodrow said: “My only criticism of them is that neither
was willing to take over the reins as chair when I begged them to
do so several years ago. Although tempted to stand down completely
from this committee, I have been persuaded by many people outside
and inside the Town Hall to remain, to continue to work together
as a team to maintain our standards, in particular to defend our
independence as a quasi-judicial body acting for the public interest.” |
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