Andrew Dismore

The Barnet Council Planning Committee will have to re-run an application to allow a Paddy Power bookmaker shop to open in Colindale, following an intervention from Labour London Assembly Member for Barnet and Camden Andrew Dismore. The application was originally heard on 28^th September, where the committee determined to refuse the application, but deferred the reasons for refusal to the next meeting, as officers argued that their stated reasons for refusal were not relevant to planning rules. At a subsequent meeting on 25^th October, the committee overturned their original decision, by voting against the reasons for refusals and then voted to approve the application.

However, Mr Dismore wrote to the Chief Executive of Barnet Council to point out that the membership of the committee had not been the same at both meetings, as High Barnet Councillor Wendy Prentice had not attended the first hearing, and Hendon Councillor Mark Shooter had not attended the second meeting.

Mr Hooton, in his reply to Mr Dismore, agreed that the legality of the decision was flawed, saying:

‘Following consultation with the Monitoring Officer, I accept that there is an extent to which the change in committee attendance between the two meetings could be perceived as having had an impact on the decision.  While the legality of the planning decision is ultimately a matter for the court to determine it does appear that justice may not have been seen to have been done. I am particularly concerned that the Council must always be seen to be fair and transparent in connection with all matters including planning.

‘In these circumstances I am directing that this decision is rendered void and that this planning application is re-run and we are writing concurrently to the Applicant to so advise.’

Mr Dismore said:

‘This is yet more shambolic incompetence from Barnet Council. I am staggered that they could make this kind of mistake. This is yet more evidence of how the Conservative leadership at Barnet are hopeless, and the most basic level of management is woefully lacking. The Conservatives have let Capita wreck the planning department, there are costly mistakes being made all the time, and it is residents who are paying the price of their failure. They need a complete overhaul as residents have lost all trust in the system.’

ENDS

Notes:

• Andrew Dismore is the Labour London Assembly Member for Barnet and Camden
• Minutes of the meeting of 28^th September can be found here.
• Minutes of the meeting of 25^th October can be found here.