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New twist in Woodbine Street controversy
Date published: 03 March 2010
The controversy over the Council's proposal to sell valuable land off Woodbine Street to a developer for just £1 has taken a new twist.
Whilst the Council has yet to ratify the proposal to sell, the planning sub-committee last week granted planning permission to the developer for a range of dwellings on the site. One of the councillors who sat on the planning sub-committee that granted approval has been accused of pre-determination - something that is strictly not allowed.
Councillor Mohamed Sharif’s Lib Dem colleague Councillor David Clayton, ward councillor for the area, was of the opinion that Councillor Sharif was guilty of pre-determination. Speaking to Rochdale Online at the planning meeting he said that Councillor Sharif was determined to see the land sold and the housing built and his being allowed to vote on the planning issue was a “matter of concern”.
Residents wrote to Rochdale Borough Council's Chief Executive, Roger Ellis, with their concerns and received a letter back from the Borough Solicitor, Linda Fisher, saying:
"Councillor Sharif is the Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, however, that does not prevent him from sitting on the Planning Committee. Having discussed the matter with Councillor Sharif prior to the meeting, Councillor Sharif had not formed a view on the planning merits of the application and had an open mind on the particular proposals. Under these circumstances it is acceptable for a Councillor to take part in the planning decision."
However, prior to the planning sub-committee meeting, Councillor Sharif handed a pre-typed A4 sheet - 'Briefing Note on land disposal for housing at Woodbine Street - to Rochdale Online that clearly shows Councillor Sharif did not have an “open mind”, and was in fact doing his utmost to 'sell' the proposal.
The 'Briefing Note' goes into detail, in ten bullet points, on why the land should be virtually given to Great Places Housing Group, it includes points such as:
- Selling the site to Great Places will enable development to take place quickly, allowing control over the type of development to ensure it meets the Council's regeneration objectives and provides the type of housing needed in the area.
- Although on the face of it, buying a site then selling it for £1 seems illogical, regeneration comes at a price and the public intervention is designed to enable development to happen.
Woodbine Street resident Sharon Taylor was furious on hearing about Councillor Sharif’s briefing note, she said: "We residents were very disappointed at the reply we received from Linda Fisher regarding Councillor Sharif voting on the planning issue, he had most certainly made up his mind on the matter and his vote was obvious."
The Borough Solicitor has been invited to respond, however, at the time of publication no response had been forthcoming.
Comments
This is what he actually told the Rochdale Observer.:
Councillor Mohammed Sharif supported the plans.
He said that if the land was not developed it would end up as a rubbish tip.
He added: "I am very happy to go along with this report because I don't want to lose the funding - I urge the council and the cabinet to sell it."
Quote taken from Rochdale Observer 3/2/2010
original story can be found on their website.
Councillor Clayton needs to be supported by all who stand for open and honest politics, no matter what political persuasion they are. Selling land for £1.00 is totally disgusting when the Council is increasing our Council Tax by 4%.
Our Liberal Democrat 'leaders' have got the council officials running scared. Get them out!
This is definitely a resigning matter. To encourage a sale at £1 when it would sell with planning permission for well over £200,000 stinks. A investigation is needed - even if only to clear the issue.
Councillor Sharif has pushed for this to go ahead but he didn't count on the local people fighting back.
The area is highly populated, with mostly terrace houses, and no green land; residents want this land for allotments and open space for local people to use.
Well people were daft enough to vote for a party that had already shown repeated incompetence.
Words fail me and nothing this council does suprises me.
All very well saying the houses are being built for the Asian community. I wonder if this would be in the national press had the council said the houses were for white people.
It's an outrage.
Have Your Say
Stinks to high heaven!
By charly @ 03/03/2010 20:04:52