Councillors’ meeting with developers probed

ANSWERS are being demanded into why senior councillors met a Tory businessman to discuss publicity for his luxury flats development - before it got approval.

Basildon Council leader Malcolm Buckley and deputy Tony Ball discussed announcing approval for the multi-million pound development during talks with developer Ray Ride.

Mr Ride is a director of Bradgate Developments which is building Riverside Place, a 173 flats complex in Lower Southend Road, Wickford.

Following the meeting, in September 2005, Mr Ride asked the council for the application to be heard prior to the publicity event planned for October 22.

It was not actually heard by the council's development control committee, chaired by Sylvia Buckley - Mr Buckley's wife - until November 8 before final approval was given on March 7, 2006.

However, campaigners believe discussing an announcement at the meeting, in Bradgate's office in Lower Southend Road, before approval, breaches council policy of councillors not being allowed to meet developers without council officers.

The council constitution says at least one officer should attend potentially contentious meetings with applicants and a written note should be made of the talks.

Former Basildon Council chairman and planning chairman David Harrison is in Wickford Action Group, which is campaigning to limit the number of flats in Wickford.

He said discussing the announcement before app- roval could be seen as a "predetermination".

He said: "When I was chairman the rule was no councillor should meet any developer to discuss an application without an officer."

In an e-mail to Clive Simpson, Basildon Counc- il's head of planning, Mr Ride pressed for an October 11 date for his application to be heard so the announcement could be made on October 22.

The e-mail detailed his meeting with Mr Buckley and Mr Ball to discuss opening Bradgate Develop- ment's smaller flats complex in Lower Southend Road - Riverside Court.

Action group grills leader COUNCIL leader Mal- colm Buckley and his deputy Tony Ball faced a tough grilling over their meeting with Ray Ride at the latest full council meeting.

David Harrison, Wick- ford Action Group member, asked: "How many times since the beginning of 2003 has the leader of the council, his deputy or any other member of the council met with the directors, developers, or agents, connected with the redevelopment of Lower Southend Road?"

Mr Buckley said he could not speak for other members and kept an electronic diary, but deleted information from previous years.

He added: "Diary dates prior to this year are no longer available." Mr Harrison asked: "How and why was the leader of the council promising an approved application before it was up for consideration by the development control committee, something the council constitution appears to forbid?"

Mr Ball said the issues should be raised with the Standards Board, not in the council chamber.

Mr Buckley replied he would have liked to have announced approval for the scheme, but added: "It could not be an- nounced, because the application was not heard in time."

Mr Harrison pressed for more, but was told to be quiet or leave by Tory council chairman Geoff Buckenham.

I'm just working to get the best for Wickford COUNCIL leader Malcolm Buckley defended his meeting with Ray Ride and said it was all in the interest of Wickford's future.

He said: "Mr Ride asked us to organise the opening of Riverside Court and I happened to say it would be good if I could announce approval for the larger development.

"I fully support the regeneration of Wickford and this development is a key part of that.

"There was nothing more to this meeting."

Mr Buckley accepted councillors should not meet developers over live planning applications without officers present, but said the talks with Mr Ride were about regeneration not a specific application.

Yet Mr Ride's e-mail referred to discussions of a section 106 agreement - a legal arrangement when developers pledge cash towards community im- provements to help get approval.

Mr Buckley said: "It was a general discussion.

"Issues were raised about the section 106 by Mr Ride, but these were referred to officers.

"I cannot predetermine an application.

"I am not on the committee and have no power over how members vote."

Mr Buckley said a protocol was introduced this spring - after the 2005 meeting - advising of no meetings between councillors and developers without officers being present to protect the interests of developers and councillors.

He admitted before the protocol it was unusual for members to meet developers without officers.

He said he did not even attend the 20 flats Riverside Court development opening on October 22.

His deputy Tony Ball went instead.

Mr Buckley also launched a stinging attack on Wickford Action Group and said he would no longer comment on their accusations.

He said: "I now treat them as a political group out to smear the Conservatives and will not attend their meetings.

"The action group is conjuring up allegations to prevent the regeneration."

Mr Ride, who is a councillor for Runwell on Chelmsford Council, is recovering from a heart bypass and told the Echo he was not well enough to comment.

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