A motion backed by councillors from all parties accused Sadiq Khan of acting “to disregard the wishes of local residents”, reports Joe Ives, Local Democracy Reporter
Barnet councillors have protested a decision by City Hall to overturn the local authority’s rejection of plans for around 1,750 homes.
Conservative councillor Shimon Ryde put forward a motion at a full council meeting on Tuesday (7th) in response to a controversial planning decision by deputy mayor of London Jules Pipe.
At the end of May, Pipe overturned two decisions made by Barnet Council’s strategic planning committee to refuse planning permission for a 1,485-home development at Great North Leisure Park in North Finchley and a 283-home scheme at High Barnet Station’s car park.
The move attracted criticism from councillors of all parties and, on Tuesday, a motion by Cllr Ryde was passed unanimously following agreed amendments.
Cllr Ryde accused both the government and Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan of acting “to disregard the wishes of local residents and the concerns expressed through the council’s planning committee regarding the High Barnet and Finchley Lido schemes, as well as the serious fire concerns in the Edgware development”.
The motion also slammed government plans to reduce the role of elected councillors in planning decisions.
Cllr Ryde said: “Development is the single most powerful driver of irreversible change in our communities, and the planning system controls that change.
“It must be answerable to residents and their elected representatives. It must be transparent and open to public scrutiny. It must allow residents and elected members to help shape the future of the places where we live.”
In an unusual moment of cross-party cohesion, all members agreed to back an idea put forward by the borough’s only Green councillor, Charli Thompson. Cllr Thompson represents Woodhouse ward, the location of the Great North Leisure Park scheme.
Cllr Thompson thanked Cllr Ryde for his motion, adding: “I think there is a huge amount of common ground here.”
She continued: “Whatever our political differences I think we can all agree that people who know their communities best are the people who live in them and the councillors they elected to represent them.”
The Green councillor put forward amendments to Cllr Ryde’s motion, including a call to prioritise local housing need over government-led targets. “We need the right homes, in the right places, at the right prices to meet the needs of the people who actually live here,” she said.
Cllr Thompson’s amendment was passed with unanimous approval. An amendment put forward by Ross Houston, the council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for homes and regeneration, was also given full support by all members.
Speaking ahead of the vote, Cllr Houston said his group would be happy to support the motion “in the spirit of cross-party co-operation”.
Amendments included the addition of extra details, such as a recognition that Pipe is not serving in a political position and “is actually a civil servant – appointed not elected”.
“We have a tradition in Barnet of democracy around planning and sticking up for that democracy,” Cllr Houston said, adding: “The commitment to affordable and social homes can still be delivered in the context of local democracy.”
Pipe made both decisions in May under delegated authority from Khan. The London mayor is consulted on all planning applications of ‘potential strategic importance’ to the capital.
Speaking at the time, Pipe said he recognised the “numerous concerns” regarding the location, density and proposed building height of the Great North Leisure Park scheme.
Nevertheless, the deputy mayor praised developer Arada London and said it was necessary to support the development in order to prevent the need for development in other locations, including on the Green Belt. He also commended the 25% affordable housing allocation proposed.
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