Campaign against Lewes District Council's £134,000 spending on the Public Inquiry

[Lord Bracknell]

There is a meeting of the full Lewes District Council on Wednesday, 6 October 2004 at 2.30pm in the Community Hall, Meridian Centre, Peacehaven.

These meetings start with Questions from the Public to the Lead Councillors. I have arranged for two questions to be put to Neil Commin, Lead Councillor for Planning:-

1. Bearing in mind that, when the Public Inquiry into the Brighton & Hove Albion planning application for a new stadium re-opens in February, the scope of the Inquiry will be limited to an examination of sites that are all outside Lewes District, how does this Council justify the additional expenditure of £35,000 that was approved by the Cabinet at its meeting on 8 September?

2. Were a football stadium to be proposed at any of the sites that will be considered at the re-opened Public Inquiry, does Councillor Commin accept that Lewes District Council is not in a position to consult the local people who would be affected by the stadium, or to come to any substantive conclusions about the impact of such a development on the local planning, transport, economic or environmental strategies of the local authority that would be responsible for the stadium site?

Because two days' notice has to be given for questions, what will happen is that Councillor Commin will read out carefully prepared replies, that will have been drafted for him by the Chief Planning Officer.

But, for each question asked, there is then an opportunity for the questioner to put a supplementary question that hasn't been seen in advance by the Councillor who will be answering it.

I'm going to spend the next couple of days thinking up two difficult supplementary questions.

 

[The Large One]

I'm going to spend the next couple of days thinking up two difficult supplementary questions.

How about, 'can the Council explain Einstein's Theory of Relativity in Serbo-Croat, please?' That'll screw them.

 

[Brovion]

Lord B they'll probably come back with some answer about the stadium itself being out of their jurisdiction but they must represent the 'concerns' of Lewes residents about having a dirty great football ground right on their border. Plus they'll play the transport card and say they're worried about the environmental impact of people coming through the LDC area to get to the ground.

Also isn't a road junction or the proposed coach park under their jurisdiction?

 

[Lord Bracknell]

Possibly true, Brovian, IF the resumed Public Inquiry was about a stadium at Falmer.

It isn't. It's about sites that are ALL outside Lewes District.

 

[Marc]

Good stuff Lord B, hit them where it hurts and when they're down ask them to host a small public vote on the matter of them spending Tax payers money. I reckon in favour of the stadium would win!

 

[Rangdo]

Lord B they'll probably come back with some answer about the stadium itself being out of their jurisdiction but they must represent the 'concerns' of Lewes residents about having a dirty great football ground right on their border. Plus they'll play the transport card and say they're worried about the environmental impact of people coming through the LDC area to get to the ground.

Also isn't a road junction or the proposed coach park under their jurisdiction?

These issues should have been addressed by LDC at the original inquiry where they demonstrated their facts and opinions. The debate about Falmer is now closed. The new enquiry is looking at the suitability of alternatives.

 

[Brovion]

These issues should have been addressed by LDC at the original inquiry where they demonstrated their facts and opinions. The debate about Falmer is now closed. The new enquiry is looking at the suitability of alternatives.

I know that, you know that, Lord B knows that, even Tom Carr knows that. However LDC are still implacably opposed and will use every argument than can however specious. Just look at some of those email responses from LDC councillors that have been posted, most of them don't even make sense.

(Why they are still spending money on something that is nothing to do with them Maybe they think they'll lose face if they pull out now).

 

[Rangdo]

The only justification I can see is that if they prove that another site is suitable then it will move the development away from Lewes. However, as has been said, if none of these sites is in Lewes District they shouldn't be wasting the money on it.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

Just look at some of those email responses from LDC councillors that have been posted, most of them don't even make sense.

My favourite response is the latest one I've had from Councillor Marina Pepper.

I e-mailed her:-

"May I ask whether the Lewes District Council Cabinet have placed any limitation on the issues that they wish to put forward on behalf of the Council in this final phase of the Inquiry?

May I also ask how the District Council intends to collect evidence relating to the alternative sites mentioned in the ODPM’s letter dated 26 July – bearing in mind that NONE of the sites are in Lewes District, and that the scope of the re-opened Inquiry will be limited to an examination of these alternative sites and NOTHING ELSE?"

Her reply:-

You may but please refer back to David Rogers otherwise we'll all be chasing tails and I have a full council meeting to attend to.

Best wishes

M

xxx


Have I pulled?

She's an ex-Playboy centrefold, by the way. And a wicca witch.

 

[Zeitgeist]

Lol....What she mean's is "shit, he's asking too many impertinent questions and I can't wriggle out of this one." "I know, I'll pass the buck onto Rogers"......

 

[somerset]

I'm going to spend the next couple of days thinking up two difficult supplementary questions.

I ssume you will keep those questions off this site until they have been asked........................

I know, I know..... didn't want to sound condescending, but I thought I would say just in case.

 

[itszamora]

I ssume you will keep those questions off this site until they have been asked........................

I know, I know..... didn't want to sound condescending, but I thought I would say just in case.

Good point, we know Lewes DC know of this site

 

[Lord Bracknell]

I understand that SCR are planning to feature the plans for Lewes District Council to spend £35,000 on fighting the stadium on the Wednesday breakfast show. The news reader Simon Jenkins is thought to be sympathetic to the Albion and hopefully will do his best to ensure that our side of the story comes out, but being the BBC they will no doubt have to hear both sides.

Perhaps some phone calls or e mails into the show would be an idea after they run the piece?

sarah.gorrell@bbc.co.uk
simon.jenkins.01@bbc.co.uk

 

[The Auditor]

There is a meeting of the full Lewes District Council on Wednesday, 6 October 2004 at 2.30pm in the Community Hall, Meridian Centre, Peacehaven.

These meetings start with Questions from the Public to the Lead Councillors. I have arranged for two questions to be put to Neil Commin, Lead Councillor for Planning:-

1. Bearing in mind that, when the Public Inquiry into the Brighton & Hove Albion planning application for a new stadium re-opens in February, the scope of the Inquiry will be limited to an examination of sites that are all outside Lewes District, how does this Council justify the additional expenditure of £35,000 that was approved by the Cabinet at its meeting on 8 September?

2. Were a football stadium to be proposed at any of the sites that will be considered at the re-opened Public Inquiry, does Councillor Commin accept that Lewes District Council is not in a position to consult the local people who would be affected by the stadium, or to come to any substantive conclusions about the impact of such a development on the local planning, transport, economic or environmental strategies of the local authority that would be responsible for the stadium site?

Because two days' notice has to be given for questions, what will happen is that Councillor Commin will read out carefully prepared replies, that will have been drafted for him by the Chief Planning Officer.

But, for each question asked, there is then an opportunity for the questioner to put a supplementary question that hasn't been seen in advance by the Councillor who will be answering it.

I'm going to spend the next couple of days thinking up two difficult supplementary questions.

I like this - some accountability called for - i'm new to this thread has any of this made the local TV?

 

[Heffle Gull]

I understand that SCR are planning to feature the plans for Lewes District Council to spend £35,000 on fighting the stadium on the Wednesday breakfast show. The news reader Simon Jenkins is thought to be sympathetic to the Albion and hopefully will do his best to ensure that our side of the story comes out, but being the BBC they will no doubt have to hear both sides.

Perhaps some phone calls or e mails into the show would be an idea after they run the piece?

sarah.gorrell@bbc.co.uk
simon.jenkins.01@bbc.co.uk

heard the feature SCR did this morning loads of messages from Lewes residnet in favour of Falmer & accusing LDC of wasting taxpayers money

good work, lets keep the pressure up

 

[Marc]

heard the feature SCR did this morning loads of messages from Lewes residnet in favour of Falmer & accusing LDC of wasting taxpayers money

good work, lets keep the pressure up

good stuff, appears the ball has started to roll and in LDC eyes the hill has turned into a mountain...thats one long road they've gotta go down with us now...lets go to war!

 

[Lord Bracknell]

Attending a meeting of Lewes District Council is like walking into a parallel universe, where familiar words are used to convey meanings that make no sense.

Anyway ...

I duly turned up at 2.30pm to ask the two questions that I had notified them about on Monday. Councillor Neil Commin, Lead Councillor for Planning, having clearly been briefed by his Chief Planning Officer, responded.

I took 20 seconds to ask my first question:-

Bearing in mind that, when the Public Inquiry into the Brighton & Hove Albion planning application for a new stadium re-opens in February, the scope of the Inquiry will be limited to an examination of sites that are all outside Lewes District, how does this Council justify the additional expenditure of £35,000 that was approved by the Cabinet at its meeting on 8 September?

Councillor Commin then gave me an answer that took a whole ten minutes to deliver. In summary, he reminded the meeting that, for many years, the government (both Conservative and Labour) has been committed to the principle that planning decisions should be in line with published Local Development Plans. We then had a précis of the Lewes District Local Plan and its commitment to preserving the integrity of the unspoilt coastline, the built heritage of the district and the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. We were then treated to a quick summary of the Brighton Local Plan and the emerging Brighton & Hove Local Plan. After that, came a lecturette on government planning policies in relation to the AONB and an account of the progress that there has been in turning the downs into a National Park.

Councillor Commin then explained that Inspector Collyer's report on the Albion planning applications had produced the outcome that he had rejected the claim by the Club that the proposed stadium was significant in terms of national considerations and that there were no alternative sites available.

What he failed to mention, of course, was that John Prescott had rejected Collyer's conclusions. But no matter. I digress. This important fact doesn't seem to have been included in Councillor Commin's briefing note.

Anyway ... If Lewes District Council's Local Plan policy to protect the AONB is to mean anything, this requires them to continue to protect the AONB at Falmer and, indeed, other sites throughout the AONB. They must therefore continue to play a part in the Public Inquiry.

My turn, now, to ask a supplementary question.

I start by trying to tell the meeting that John Prescott had plainly not accepted Collyer's conclusions. But I am interrupted by the Chair of the Council who tells me that I'm not allowed to make statements, only to ask a supplementary question.

OK. I get on with it:-

Almost 5,000 residents of Lewes District have signed a petition in support of a stadium at Falmer. This is the only site that is available that will deliver sustainable transport access. It will also provide direct economic benefits ... [Interruption from the Chair ... "This isn't a question". Reply from me ... "Yes it is".] ... to businesses in Lewes District, for example from the many supporters who will park in Lewes before completing their journey to Falmer by bus or train. What message does this Council wish to give to those supporters and the local businesses who will suffer if the Falmer application is rejected?

Councillor Commin replies (unbriefed). Err. He's not sure that the businesses in Lewes are very keen on people parking in the town.

I resist the temptation to remind him that the local paper has, for months, been full of stories about how the traders are worried that people are no longer shopping in Lewes, because the new parking scheme is discouraging drivers from going there. Besides which, the Chair of the Council won't let me say that, since it's not a question.

So. On to my second main question:-

Were a football stadium to be proposed at any of the sites that will be considered at the re-opened Public Inquiry, does Councillor Commin accept that Lewes District Council is not in a position to consult the local people who would be affected by the stadium, or to come to any substantive conclusions about the impact of such a development on the local planning, transport, economic or environmental strategies of the local authority that would be responsible for the stadium site?

Another long answer. We have to remember that there are no planning applications being considered for the alternative sites. Therefore, Lewes District Council won't be stepping on the toes of the City Council if it turns up at the Inquiry to state its planning policies in relation to the AONB, the primacy of Local Development Plans, the importance of national Planning Guidance, etc, etc, etc.[see above for details.]

My go again. Can't be bothered to do anything other than press on with my second supplementary question:-

The Secretary of State has identified the issues that he wishes the re-opened Inquiry to consider. They relate to the availability and suitability of seven sites that are all in the Brighton & Hove conurbation. Does this Council intend to present evidence in relation to all of these sites? Or does it have a preference for a particular site? And, bearing in mind its commitment to listening to the views of local people, on what basis can this Council reach any conclusions about a particular site’s suitability?

Councillor Commin clearly doesn't want to commit his Council to anything, so he makes it clear that these are his "personal" thoughts. Brighton Station - no good, not available. Likewise Coral's Stadium. Waterhall - no good, AONB/National Park. Shoreham Harbour - far too difficult. Withdean - very difficult ...

"Keep going", I think. "You're doing very well so far".

But then he slips up. Toads Hole Valley - AONB ...

"Yes!" I think. "He's going to chuck that one out as well".

... but likely to be de-designated ...

"Hold on. That applies to Falmer. Or hasn't your Planning Officer told you that?"

Sheepcote Valley - suggested by Collyer. And the Inspector's Report is, of course, in line with the Lewes Local Development Plan, national policy guidance, Countryside Agency policy, Sussex Downs Conservation Policy etc. etc. etc. [See above. Again.]

Chair of the Council's turn again.

"Sit down. Shut up".

Me:- "Thank you kindly, Sir. Sorry to have troubled you, Sir. Won't do it again, Sir. Sorry". Resumes seat, to await "debate" about the Council's decision to spend £35,000 of Council Tax payers' money. [Further post on this to follow]

 

[fatbadger]

Excellent work, LdB. Keep it up.

 

[Yorkie]

Excellent work, LdB. Keep it up.

Agreed

 

[The Auditor]

Excellent work, LdB. Keep it up.

Thank you for taking the time to go and explain it here - excellent work - strikes me that LDC are heading for a fall