• IT beggars belief that Cllr Phil Jones, until recently Camden’s cabinet member for regeneration, transport and planning, could not find another planning consultancy in all of London to hire him, save for the one he had been liaising with on the contentious projects at 100 Avenue Road and in Somers Town, Turley Associates.

Most councillors in the borough do not currently work in full-time, private, employment. This is due to the great amount of time required by council business.

There are few commercial organisations willing to give employees the flexibility required to serve as a councillor, but it is not hard to understand why Turley Associates is happy to make that sacrifice.

It is time for Phil Jones to step down as a councillor in Camden, with immediate effect. Residents deserve better than a politician who says he represents them, but at the same time works for a planning consultancy with live, and controversial, business before the borough.

Relinquishing his role as planning chief is not enough. It is extraordinarily important that this conflict of interest be resolved immediately, and Phil Jones be removed from his council role.

Allowing him to remain a councillor, while employed by a commercial planner threatens Georgia Gould’s credibility as a council leader.

RACHEL PINE
St Paul’s Crescent, NW1