Approval for Perceval House Scheme Ruled Invalid |
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Interruption to broadcast of virtual meeting means decision cannot stand
The controversial decision by the Ealing Council planning committee to approve the Perceval House application has been ruled as invalid. The decision was taken after Ealing Council’s monitoring officer advised the chair of the planning committee that interruptions to the live stream broadcast of the virtual meeting on Wednesday 10 March meant that the vote should not have taken place. The last forty minutes of the meeting, which included part of the debate and the vote, was not available to view for the public. In the event ten of the councillors voted in favour of the scheme with three against and one abstention. The broadcast to the public was made using YouTube. The planning committee needs to meet again to consider the application and steps are being taken to confirm a suitable date for as soon as possible, to allow this to happen, in circumstances where the public will be able to witness the full debate and the vote. The council says measures have been taken to prevent a re-occurrence. A spokesperson for Ealing Council said, “The monitoring officer gave her advice following full consideration of what happened at the 10 March planning committee meeting and also, consideration of the legal position. It has always been a fundamental principle of Ealing Council’s decision making that it be completely transparent, and it is disappointing that, due to technical problems outside the council’s control, that did not happen at the 10 March meeting.”
March 19, 2021
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