New twist in Woodbine Street controversy

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Councillor Mohamed Shariff

The controversy over the Council's proposal to sell valuable land off Woodbine Street to a developer for just £1 has taken a new twist.

Whilst the Council has yet to ratify the proposal to sell, the planning sub-committee last week granted planning permission to the developer for a range of dwellings on the site. One of the councillors who sat on the planning sub-committee that granted approval has been accused of pre-determination - something that is strictly not allowed.

Councillor Mohamed Sharif’s Lib Dem colleague Councillor David Clayton, ward councillor for the area, was of the opinion that Councillor Sharif was guilty of pre-determination. Speaking to Rochdale Online at the planning meeting he said that Councillor Sharif was determined to see the land sold and the housing built and his being allowed to vote on the planning issue was a “matter of concern”.

Residents wrote to Rochdale Borough Council's Chief Executive, Roger Ellis, with their concerns and received a letter back from the Borough Solicitor, Linda Fisher, saying:

"Councillor Sharif is the Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, however, that does not prevent him from sitting on the Planning Committee. Having discussed the matter with Councillor Sharif prior to the meeting, Councillor Sharif had not formed a view on the planning merits of the application and had an open mind on the particular proposals. Under these circumstances it is acceptable for a Councillor to take part in the planning decision."

However, prior to the planning sub-committee meeting, Councillor Sharif handed a pre-typed A4 sheet - 'Briefing Note on land disposal for housing at Woodbine Street - to Rochdale Online that clearly shows Councillor Sharif did not have an “open mind”, and was in fact doing his utmost to 'sell' the proposal.

The 'Briefing Note' goes into detail, in ten bullet points, on why the land should be virtually given to Great Places Housing Group, it includes points such as:

• Selling the site to Great Places will enable development to take place quickly, allowing control over the type of development to ensure it meets the Council's regeneration objectives and provides the type of housing needed in the area.
• Although on the face of it, buying a site then selling it for £1 seems illogical, regeneration comes at a price and the public intervention is designed to enable development to happen.

Woodbine Street resident Sharon Taylor was furious on hearing about Councillor Sharif’s briefing note, she said: "We residents were very disappointed at the reply we received from Linda Fisher regarding Councillor Sharif voting on the planning issue, he had most certainly made up his mind on the matter and his vote was obvious."

The Borough Solicitor has been invited to respond, however, at the time of publication no response had been forthcoming.

www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/37024/controversial-development-granted-permission

www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/36218/lib-dems-row-over-housing-development-proposal