Neil Harris has raised his concerns over an important document relating to the Beverley town plan urging residents to have their say amid fears the local authority are using the elections as cover to squeeze through changes unchallenged.
Furthermore Mr Harris claims that links in the document should direct people back to the council website are invalid or simply just not working.
Speaking about the document Mr Harris said;
“Standing as an Independent candidate for St Mary’s ward on May 7th, I wanted to ensure that I was aware of all the current issues surrounding “planning and strategy” for the ward and an overview of the complete situation for the whole of Beverley.”
“I obtained a document which has come out of East Riding of Yorkshire Council on the important amendments that the independent planning inspector had requested to the “East Riding Local Plan Strategy Document” these are listed as Modifications needed to address legal requirements or issues of soundness.”
“This is a hugely important document for the whole of the East Riding, yet I believe there appears to be an issue with its timing for the public consultation period of Monday 30 March through 5pm Monday 11 May 2015.”
“This consultant period sits almost completely across the period known as “Purdah” with the election on Thursday 7th May. The document also carries a number of web links to the EYRCC website that do not connect or exist.”
“Purdah is a very difficult period to get details out of the council with the flow of information hindered for a month. My concern is ERYCC with its heavily Conservative led majority and committees, could actually be close to crossing a line in law by releasing this document during this period.”
“The Purdah period prevents local government from making announcements about any new or controversial government initiatives which could be seen to be advantageous to any candidates or parties. Where an actual advantage to candidates is proven in law precedent cases have been given. This amounts to a breach of Section 2 of the Local Government Act 1986.”
“My concern is that once the election is done, the consultation period will be as good as over, and the council will be able to state that they consulted the people of Beverley and East Riding on its content.”
“With many of the 50 (out of a total of 67) conservative councillors returning to a document that, then can be adopted. Any new councillor elected in these forth coming elections would have no time to comment on these amendments with their wards electorate.”
“Finding this information wears the residents out, perhaps that’s the intention?”
“Many of the general public have given up long ago, thinking that the council will do as it pleases anyway.”
“Standing as an Independent I can speak out without fear of being nullified and I believe this is a further example of the planning process being fast tracked through, and the residents finding out the outcome after the event.”
“You must make your comments on this document to malcolm.wells@eastriding.gov.uk. I would start every letter by questioning the timing of this document.”
Neill, you are a tad late.
The Beverley Party raised this issue publicly on 7 April: http://www.hu17.net/2015/04/07/the-beverley-party-say-development-plans-are-not-a-done-deal/
The above press release was actually written on 29 March, the day before the public consultation period began.
This article has generated a lively debate on facebook which is still on-going.
Well done to the Beverley party for raising this issue.