Planning System Compromised

[Green_not_greed]

First we had Donald Trump turned down by local planners, then called in by the Scottish Government after Trump had words with our First Minister. Democracy? I don't think so.....

Now according to todays P&J the Highland Council has a significant investment in Tesco shares. As we all know Tescos have successfully got through the planning system and have managed to build stores in Inverness and Wick, yet Asda continues to be given the cold shoulder.

On top of all that, a local group near Inverness have shown that under a housing development "Nine internal e-mails show that the outcome of the application was prejudged by Council Planning staff." (reference below)

http://www.bogbain.com/latestnews.html

Sleaze, it seems, is not only restricted to New Labour or Westminster.

How else are Highland Council being influenced by developers?

I would like to see an inquiry into Highland Council planning officials regarding the above, and until that inquiry is complete, all planning hearings suspended.

[cuddlepop]

Totally agree with you.

There planning application process is not all that it seems.The question is ,is it the council officers or the councillors ?:confused


Was this information uncovered through the process of "Freedom Of Information" legislation.?

[Rheghead]

Does this mean you would like to see a suspension to someone's application for a loft extension, conservatory or something?:confused

[concerned resident]

even the Planning System in Caithness is more like a lottery, who you know, or what organision you belong to.

[Green_not_greed]

The question is ,is it the council officers or the councillors ?:confused

From what I've seen its the planning officials. The P&J said that the councillors knew nothing about the Tesco investment.


Was this information uncovered through the process of "Freedom Of Information" legislation.?

No - from the P&J and from a Land Rover on the east of the A9 as you go south from Inverness - with the Bogbain web site on it. Its been there for a while.

The Bogbain thing is a proposed development by Tulloch. Tulloch are the company that seem to have built most of the more recent developments around Inverness. Is it a coincidence that one of Highland Council's senior planning officials left the Council and joined Tulloch in 2004?

[lazytown]

Totally agree with you.

There planning application process is not all that it seems.The question is ,is it the council officers or the councillors ?:confused


Was this information uncovered through the process of "Freedom Of Information" legislation.?


The information about the Highland Councils Investments was gotten under the FOI act.

Here is the P&J Article

http://www.thisisnorthscotland.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=149212&command=displayContent&sourceNode=232919&home=yes&more_nodeId1=149221&contentPK=19282872 (http://www.thisisnorthscotland.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=149212&command=displayContent&sourceNode=232919&home=yes&more_nodeId1=149221&contentPK=19282872)

TESCO TOWN FURY OVER SHARES HELD BY COUNCIL
Date : 17.12.07

Highland councillors accused of turning Inverness into Tesco Town have more than £130,000 of public money invested in the company, the Press and Journal can reveal.

News that Highland Council had substantial shares in Tesco brought immediate calls last night for the investment to be withdrawn.

A review was also under way by the council into its investment strategies.

Critics feared the council's financial link with the company could leave it open to accusations of unethical behaviour when ruling on retail planning applications.

Tesco has succeeded with three planning applications for stores in Inverness, resulting in critics dubbing the Highland capital Tesco Town.

The company is now trying for a fourth outlet, while planners have advised refusal of an application by its fierce rival, Asda, for its first store in the Highlands. Officials say it breaks the local plan.

Planners said earlier this month that both applications were bigger than allowed under the local plan. Increased traffic was also an issue.

The investments came to light after the P &J requested a breakdown of where the council invests money from its common good fund. The request was made under the Freedom of Information Act.

Funds are also invested in drinks and tobacco firms.

The common good fund features a £4.5million portfolio within a fund boasting total assets valued at just over £25million.

Accounts for the first quarter of 2007 showed the council had £118,556 of investment in Tesco plus an additional £14,641 holding through a separate "Inverness burial grounds commutation fund".

There was furious reaction to the Tesco link last night.

One veteran Inverness councillor, horrified by the revelation, said he and colleagues should have been briefed, arguing that "it should almost be a material consideration in planning terms".

No councillor the P &J approached knew which companies were invested in. All voiced serious concern, as did many senior politicians. Tesco declined to comment.

Labour councillor John Holden asked: "Is this why the council are keeping a supermarket company other than Tesco out of the city? At a recent planning meeting we were accused, every single one of us, of being in Tesco's pocket. Well, I'm not.

"I feel they are penalising the people of Inverness and the Highlands because of their dominant position."

Steve Rodger, an Inverness community council chairman opposed to the spread of Tesco stores across Inverness, was "speechless" at learning of the council's investment in the supermarket chain.

He said: "I would have thought that any investment in any company that may seek planning or development in the Inverness area would mean the council must withdraw this money and put it into some other company."

Independent city councillor Roddy Balfour said: "This council is up to its ears with Tesco, and not just in Inverness. Tesco planning applications are coming up all the time. This is something the councillors and officials should have been made aware of and it should almost be a material consideration in planning terms."

Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Peter Peacock said there were now managers specialising in ethical funds and the council should use them.

The council's senior management would not respond to a series of P &J questions concerning:

Ethical consideration of investments.

Who chose tobacco and alcohol firms.

Whether councillors or officials had ever been briefed about investments in Tesco or Scottish and Southern Energy.

Council spokesman Gordon Fyfe simply quoted an extract from the authority's "pension fund statement of investment principles".

It states: "The council has instructed the fund managers to take into account the key principles of socially responsible investment."

Asked if the issue would be reviewed, he said: "The common good fund at present doesn't have the same policies that are in place for the pension fund. Action is being taken to review the investment strategy so that it comes into line with the pensions scheme."

The figures emerged in the week NHS Highland, which also has more than £130,000 invested in Tesco shares, presented an annual report to councillors that brought the region's smoking and alcohol problems into sharp focus.

But neither senior staff at the council nor the health board would respond to criticism of common good funds being invested in those sectors.

Lochaber councillor and GP Michael Foxley said: "Local community good funds should be invested ethically. Clearly that is not the case with this example."

Trevor Salmon, political analyst at Aberdeen University, said: "Committees must declare an interest of any involvement with companies, otherwise there is potential for conflict of interest."

[thebigman]

On top of all that, a local group near Inverness have shown that under a housing development "Nine internal e-mails show that the outcome of the application was prejudged by Council Planning staff." (reference below)


As far as I'm aware every application is prejudged by Planning Staff as it's their job to report on the applications and prepare recommendations for the elected members. The members do not have to follow the advice.

[Moby]

Well conected word on the grapevine has it that Arthur McCourt (recently retired Chief Exec of Highland Council) made a promise to build three new council offices but couldn't come up with the funding (bit of "egg on the face" there Mr McCourt, eh?). Discussions then took place with Tullochs over the possibility of a private deal where Tullochs would build and lease back to the Council for a nominal sum (but there must be some kind of benefit for Tullochs surely?)...............this is only hearsay remember not proven fact which can be documented. Maybe this is why David Sutherland appears to get all he wants and his planning applications are moved swiftly through the Planning Officials at Glen Urquart Road. I don't think for one minute that the voting local councillors at local committees are given half the information they require to make a reasoned decision on any Tulloch's application - from what I hear they are given little time, little information and a lot of pressure to come up with the decision that the Planning Department want.

Just rumour and specultation remember.......................:roll:

[Humerous Vegetable]

[quote=Green_not_greed;311912]From what I've seen its the planning officials. The P&J said that the councillors knew nothing about the Tesco investment.


If that is true, why do councillors know nothing about the public money which is being invested in our name? This either has the ring of deceit or negligence about it.

[cuddlepop]

[quote=Green_not_greed;311912]From what I've seen its the planning officials. The P&J said that the councillors knew nothing about the Tesco investment.


If that is true, why do councillors know nothing about the public money which is being invested in our name? This either has the ring of deceit or negligence about it.
Just because teh councillor they dont know about it doesn't mean anything without proof.:(

[Green_not_greed]

TESCO TOWN FURY OVER SHARES HELD BY COUNCIL
Date : 17.12.07

Highland councillors accused of turning Inverness into Tesco Town have more than £130,000 of public money invested in the company, the Press and Journal can reveal.

News that Highland Council had substantial shares in Tesco brought immediate calls last night for the investment to be withdrawn.

A review was also under way by the council into its investment strategies.

Critics feared the council's financial link with the company could leave it open to accusations of unethical behaviour when ruling on retail planning applications.

The council's senior management would not respond to a series of P &J questions concerning:

Ethical consideration of investments.

Who chose tobacco and alcohol firms.

Whether councillors or officials had ever been briefed about investments in Tesco or Scottish and Southern Energy.




Thanks for that, Lazytown.

I had missed the comment about Scottish and Southern Energy. Would that be the same SSE which has this week had approved the controvertial Achany windfarm near Lairg? Do Highland Council have investments in SSE or any other industrial or retail developers? This is surely a matter for the ombudsman?

[Rheghead]

Do Highland Council have investments in SSE?

There is an easy way to find out, just apply for info under the FOI act.;) I trust that was a question and not unsubstantial mud-slinging btw?

[Green_not_greed]

There is an easy way to find out, just apply for info under the FOI act.;) I trust that was a question and not unsubstantial mud-slinging btw?

It was a question. It had a question mark at the end. It wasn't only about SSE: how many developers (industrial and retail) do Highland Council have investments in - which could potentially influence planning decisions and perhaps even policy? The public have a right to know.