The Planners BBC2

It is a valid comment on what they do.

In extended English, I presume she meant that Planners make decisions that have political ramifications. That is the sense I got from the broadcast. What she was broadcast as saying is subtly different.

Planners are meant to be apolitical, but politics dogs their steps as dung beetles follow cow pats.

Spartacus wrote:It will be interesting to see how many people take the time to write a letter to the Borough Solicitor? We could ask how many he/she receives but from past experience RMBC will hold back the information.

Perhaps we should draft a letter here and all email a copy?

A search on RMBC website for a Borough Solicitor drew a blank. A google seach came up with Linda Fisher. The email address on the RMBC website for Linda Fisher is :

Linda Fisher
jim.taylor@rochdale.gov.uk

All a wee bit confusing but then again it's RMBC and I'm not surprise!

Linda Fisher's email address is linda.fisher@rochdale.gov.uk but emailing or writing to the borough solicitor will not achieve anything, there is no third party appeal against a planning committee approving an application. The complaint should instead be addressed to the Local Government Ombudsman (http://www.lgo.org.uk/) but be warned that even if the Ombudsman finds the council acted wrongly, the Ombudsman has no power to alter the decision!

Spartacus wrote:
and here's what Simon had to say about the fuss it has been creating on Twitter:

@SimonDanczuk
Understandable fallout from @BBC #planners. Very badly chaired meeting. Brought embarrassment for Rochdale. Complaints been made for months.

which reminds me of some astute 'pitch,' good communications, speaches and scripts being produced-written by this MP's Senior Parliamentary Assistant, Matt Baker... clever chap that he is. Not forgetting, of course, the bonus of Cllr Neil Emmott's contributions, as the Senior Case Worker employed by Simon Dancuzk at his Rochdale Office.

I doubt the planning officer Rebecca Coley will get in trouble for her comments in such a televised public arena.

If the Chief Exec is still responsible for the training of Councillors, several members and the Office Bearers on this Planning Committee could be promptly withdrawn for 'various' training purposes, and their decision called in.

Mojo Hill wrote:

Spartacus wrote:
and here's what Simon had to say about the fuss it has been creating on Twitter:

@SimonDanczuk
Understandable fallout from @BBC #planners. Very badly chaired meeting. Brought embarrassment for Rochdale. Complaints been made for months.

which reminds me of some astute 'pitch,' good communications, speaches and scripts being produced-written by this MP's Senior Parliamentary Assistant, Matt Baker... clever chap that he is. Not forgetting, of course, the bonus of Cllr Neil Emmott's contributions, as the Senior Case Worker employed by Simon Dancuzk at his Rochdale Office.

I doubt the planning officer Rebecca Coley will get in trouble for her comments in such a televised public arena.

If the Chief Exec is still responsible for the training of Councillors, several members and the Office Bearers on this Planning Committee could be promptly withdrawn for 'various' training purposes, and their decision called in.

Simon Danczuk was clearly seen applauding this decision what a farce !!!

No, applauding the springing of a successful trap.

Considering the issues with Farouk Ahmed last year, the fallout seems guaranteed to rid him of some troublesome opposition in the local party.

Well nearly 600 people have since been driven to some action!

I don't Facebook, so can't expand. Sadly though the news feature looks to also contain an untruth-spin from the Chair about the meeting's Agenda, compounding the whole charade.

Trinity Mirror http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/local-news/call-planning-chief-quit-after-1330664


: - The chairman of Rochdale's planning committee has been urged to step-down following a TV documentary


A Facebook group has been set up in response to the programme entitled 'Rochdale disgrace, lets do something about it'. The group, which has attracted nearly 600 members, says 'it showed the rest of the UK what a disgraceful way in which our council meetings have been conducted, and the blatant disregard for procedures and professional advice given at the said meeting'.

The group currently has 280 members.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/RochdaleAction/?ref=ts&fref=ts

Hey, how about a better Rochdale?

There's also a petition asking for Colin Lambert to remove Councillor Begum as Chair of Planning:

http://chn.ge/13f3uNV

I would like to know the identities of ALL the Councillors who took part in this meeting.

Begum, Sheerin, Hobhouse, Danczuk. Who were the others?

I've signed the petition from your link Sparky....and so has my neighbours, it appears to be gathering momentum.

Poppyanna555 wrote:I've signed the petition from your link Sparky....and so has my neighbours, it appears to be gathering momentum.

Great news, Poppyanna


The group are also on twitter @RochdaleAction

Councillor Shah Wazir is one, a Shia Muslim who regularly frequents the Mustafa Islamic Centre....did he declare an interest, I wonder?

PRESENT: Councillor Shefali Begum (Chair); Councillors Iftikhar Ahmed, Burke, Duckworth, Hobhouse, O'Neill, Sheerin, Wazir and Zaman

OFFICERS: P Rowlinson (Service Director – Planning and Regulation Service), R Coley and P Ambrose (Planning and Regulation Service), G Henry and C Denyer
(Corporate Services)

ALSO IN ATTENDANCE: Councillors Daalat Ali, Farooq Ahmed, Shakil Ahmed, Linden, Metcalfe and Mulgrew and approximately 65 members of the public.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Councillor Neilson

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
19 There were no declarations of interest.

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/uploads/f1/news/document/2013216_21232.pdf

Very interesting, Hinch & J.

Hope members of the Rochdale Action group join the discussions here.

Hel all iam back.Just have to have my say on this matter.I have been posting and reposting the petition as i feel this has just got to stop .This sort of behaviour is why Rochdale is rotten.Is so unfair on the public and just should not go on.Have a nice day everyone rant over.

Welcome back misst, yes, this farce has evoked a lot of anger in a lot of people and rightly so. Let's hope our rantings are heard in the right places and that something positive comes out of it.

I think we really need to shout about this its always going on and us Rochdale residents pay the price .

Spartacus wrote:Very interesting, Hinch & J.

Hope members of the Rochdale Action group join the discussions here.

Here's one! Thanks to everyone that's supporting the campaign, we need to keep the flame burning, encourage the debate and share, share, share! Rochdale has over 200k residents, although I know we can't reach them all, I'm sure we can make a bigger dent than we have thus far and keep this topic alive.

Anthony

Iam with you Anthony.Lets raise this issue and demand something is done about it .Fed up of us Rochdale residents getting swept under the carpet.