From Section G of our code of conduct on the Council website:
Don?t decide or discuss how to vote on any application at any sort of political
group meeting, or lobby any other Member to do so. Political Group Meetings should never
dictate how Members should vote on a planning issue.
I understand the caution but Councillors can listen to the electorate ( presumably they don’t just turn up on the night unaware of the issues) , if so I guess there are a hundred and one perspectives :-
Rawreth Village would no doubt put the impact on Flooding as the No 1 issue.
Downhall area in general would no doubt put the impact on area traffic as No1.
Rayleigh as a whole would perhaps see the impact on ‘services’ as the big issue ( by
that I mean Schools/Doctors/Dentists/Emergency Services / Town Parking …….).
Hullbridge and Hockley ( rush hour routes ) would probably put traffic flow. as No 1.
The whole SE ESSEX strip would ( given every district will be building thousands of new homes ) see the pressure on already struggling Ambulance / Hospitals – Police / Fire Brigade – Social Services / Care for the Elderly and of course Highways as No1.
And so on ……….and maybe a seat on a train!!!.
For me personally the issue is the lack of vision – the tired Infrastructure ( in general ) needs addressing before you start increasing the loading on it – what I see is no coordination as Basildon (16000 ) , Castle Point ( 4000 ) , Rochford (3000 ) , Southend ( —-? ) , Chelmsford ( —–? ) etc; pushing through just building houses simultaneously. Each being passed at separate council meetings all working in their own little bubble oblivious of the bigger picture in order to serve the even more remotely defined government quotas .
If we are desperate for housing , how come the 30 (?) houses finished nearly two years ago are standing empty ( opposite the Cemetary in Hockley Rd ) – why is’nt
the empty Bullwood Hall converted into affordable housing flats for youngsters?.
You done it again Jim absolutely right . Common sense is sadly lacking in Officers as well as some Councillors . Rawreth is not just about flooding ,we are more than concerned about access and gridlock in the whole Peninsula .We are opposed to more Greenbelt than absolutely necessary being gobbled up ,we tried to suggest other sites in the Parish so we cannot be accused of Nimbism .We also wished there had been more joined up thinking in the area strategy..I am afraid that what Countryside wants in Essex as a whole ,Countryside gets .
All, type this into Google
new houses protests in the uk
We are not alone….????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
Not sure about this rule being as sensible at it would seem. eg I stand for election in a ward on the specific platform of obtaining a much needed improvement. I am elected on the basis that the public support this idea. Can I then not vote when it is raised because I have already made clear my view to the voters and been elected due to this. e.g. the MP voted in for his support for keeping Kidderminster Hospital open
GET IN THERE , REFUSAL OF THE APPLICATION 23 – 10 , some things are worth fighting for , the fight continues…….????