Harsh words as Conservative councillors clash at meeting

The row took place at the Tuesday, January 12, meeting of the Tynedale Local Area Council, where members were deciding an application relating to the Rat Inn at Anick, between Corbridge and Hexham.

The scheme, which was recommended for approval by county council planning officers, was seeking permission for alterations and extension of the pub plus the replacement of the adjacent WI Hall with a new building comprising guest/visitor rooms and a self-catering holiday cottage with associated parking.

Following the written submissions from objectors and supporters, Cllr Nick Oliver mentioned that he was ‘technically’ a member of Sandhoe Parish Council, which had objected to the application, having been co-opted last year to ensure that it remained quorate.

He said that he had been to one meeting, at which these plans were not discussed, before stating that he ‘hadn’t been prejudiced and still had an open mind’ following a question from the council’s solicitor.

However, after the application had been discussed for well over an hour, Cllr Colin Horncastle, who chairs the county council’s strategic planning committee, said: “I’m sorry to say this, but I’m not at all happy about the way this meeting is going.

“Planning is about fairness, it’s fair to everyone, it’s fair to the applicant, it’s fair to the objectors, it’s fair to everyone. This meeting is supposed to be run along a careful set of procedures to make it fair to everyone and we’ve already broken loads of procedures.”

He continued: “I’m sorry to say this, Cllr Oliver, I don’t believe for one moment if I was chairing this meeting that I would be letting you take part.

“You’ve already admitted that you’re a member of this parish council and you’ve come along at a very late stage to ask to take part; you should have been seeking that advice before the meeting, not at the start where it puts the chairman and the solicitor under pressure.”

At this point in the virtual meeting, Cllr Oliver put his hand up to indicate he wished to speak, prompting Cllr Horncastle to say: “Put your hand down, I’m not finished speaking yet.

“It’s quite obvious to me that you have not been speaking with an open mind; from the numerous times you’ve spoken, you’ve done nothing but argue with the officers who are there to give us professional advice.”

He added: “I’m asking you now, before we come to the vote, for everyone’s sake, to step aside and not take part. The road for you to take part was as a member of the parish council or speaking as the ward member.”

In response, Cllr Oliver, who represents Corbridge, said: “They were some very serious allegations, which I strongly object to.”

However, at this point, he was halted, with planning manager Liz Sinnamon suggesting a short recess to speak to the lawyer in relation to Cllr Oliver’s declaration of his membership of the parish council.

This adjournment lasted for half-an-hour and the issue was not mentioned when the meeting went live, nor did Cllr Horncastle or Oliver speak again on this matter, other than to cast their votes.

Ahead of the vote, the council’s solicitor reported that before the meeting went live again, Cllr Oliver had decided to continue to take part, as he had an open mind and listened to everything which had been said, and was making a decision on that basis.

The application was approved by 10 votes to two, with Cllr Oliver voting against alongside Cllr Trevor Cessford.

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