Andrew Dismore

 

Mayor of London Boris Johnson must provide a “public apology” for his comments made about local residents who oppose free schools in their area, says the London Assembly. The Mayor branded residents “nimbys” who “dislike school children” at Mayor’s Question Time in June because of opposition to the  proposed Avanti  free school in their area.

The London Assembly yesterday passed a motion condemning the Mayor’s defamatory comments and calling on him to campaign vigorously for tighter planning controls for free schools. The Conservative led Government have amended planning law especially to favour free schools over the interests of local people. Free schools are not subject to the same planning regime and control as other developments. There is no requirement on a free school to demonstrate the suitability of its premises for educational purposes to the planning authority, nor to show that it has adequate outdoor space for its pupils.

 

Labour London Assembly Member Andrew Dismore said:

“The Mayor’s cavalier approach to the relaxation of planning rules for free schools is at the expense of local residents who understand better the needs of their community. His depiction of those who oppose free schools as “nimbys” who “dislike school children” is incredibly insulting and he should publicly apologise.

“Boris Johnson could show that is a true champion for local people by campaigning for tighter planning controls for free schools so they have to meet the same criteria and go through the same process as any other development. Local people have a right to have their voice heard through objections on legitimate planning grounds instead of being attacked by the Mayor.

“This Government’s planning policies have created problems for residents including no local places for local children and disruption for local people. The Mayor should show some understanding instead of casually tossing their opinions aside.”

 

 

Notes

1. Andrew Dimsore  is the London Assembly Member for Barnet and Camden
2. Motion wording on Free Schools, 24^th July 2013:

 

“This Assembly condemns the Mayor’s cavalier approach to the relaxation of planning rules applying to free schools and his depiction of those who oppose free schools as “nimbys” who “dislike school children”.

The Assembly notes that, as of 30th May, the Conservative led coalition Government has watered down the planning laws, so as to especially favour free schools over the interests of local people. The Assembly further notes that free schools are now not subject to the same planning regime and controls as are other developments, with very relaxed rules making local opposition to unsuitable free school developments much harder and that this is even more so for temporary sites. The Assembly  further notes  that there is no requirement on a free school to demonstrate the suitability of its premises for educational purposes to the planning authority, nor to show that it has adequate outdoor space for its pupils.

The Assembly notes that premises in B1 (business), C1 (hotels), C2 (residential institutions) and D2 (assembly and leisure) can be permanently converted to a state-funded “free schools” without need for planning permission. The only obvious exceptions are police stations and fire stations in relation to which the Mayor’s policy is to offer them to free schools after they are closed down from their original purpose; and even these buildings, just  as those in other uses classes, can be converted to a free school for one academic year, without planning permission.

The Assembly notes that, contrary to the Government’s originally expressed policy intention, free schools do not even have to serve local children either; and the failure of a free school to do so does not give rights of objection under the revised planning rules.

This Assembly believes these changes in planning law to favour free schools fly in the face of the Government’s oft trumpeted “localism” agenda.

This Assembly calls on the Mayor to reconsider his defamatory comments about local residents and provide a public apology for these remarks. This Assembly also calls on the Mayor to campaign vigorously for tighter planning controls for free schools so they have to meet the same criteria and go through the same process as any other development enabling local people to have their voice heard through objections on legitimate planning grounds.”

Mover: Andrew Dismore

Seconder: Jennette Arnold