Council

Letter to Council Party Leaders - 26 Sept 07

The IOC strategy group today wrote to the leaders of the political groups, and the Free Independent Councillors on Lancaster City Council. A copy of the letter is reproduced below. Previously, councillors on the Planning Committee have claimed that they cannot discuss the development with IOC as it may expose them to charges of bias but a recent August 2007 publication from the Standards Board clarifies the issues of Predisposition, Predetermination or Bias, and the Code. This means that councillors on Planning Committee no longer have a valid reason for avoiding discussion of the issues with constituents. We await their responses with interest.

Letter to Leaders of Political Parties on the Council

The following letter was sent to the leader of each political group (including the independents) on Lancaster City Council requesting a meeting with It's Our City:

Dear Councillor

Prior to a decision being made on the plans submitted by Centros Miller for the proposed development of the Canal Corridor North site, IOC are contacting all political groups on Lancaster City Council. We would like to present our arguments regarding the development to you & therefore ask whether you and the members of your group would be willing to meet with us. We have noted various developments over the summer months and we feel it is important these are discussed.

Previously, councillors who also sat on Planning Committee have felt constrained about speaking on planning matters to constituents due to potential bias. This seems no longer to be the case. Our interpretation of the Standards Board for England's occasional paper of August 2007 opens the door for genuine and open debate and exchange of ideas between IT'S OUR CITY and our elected representatives. See http://www.standardsboard.gov.uk/Publications/OccasionalPaper/filedownload,6158,en.pdf

We hope that you do wish to meet with us and look forward to an early reply.

Yours sincerely

Ms C Giles
pp IOC.

Update on letter to Council Party Leaders - 22 Nov 07

So far, members of the IOC strategy group have met with the Lib Dems, and will be meeting with the Conservative group in December. Some of the Free Independent Councillors have also responded. As yet, we have had no response from either the Labour Group or the Morecambe Bay Independents.