Tory Surrey Heath Councillors 'ducking planning responsibility'.

10.05.52am GMT Thu 19th Feb 2004

Councillor David Whitcroft - "Tory Surrey Heath Councillors are ducking their planning responsibility"

Councillor David Whitcroft, the Liberal Democrat Group Leader on Surrey Heath Borough Council, has criticised Tory Council leader, Moira Gibson, for her comments at a recent Planning Applications Committee.

The leader of the Tory Council stated that she "could not find a Conservative prepared to accept the vacant place on the Planning Committee."

The vacancy had been created by the suspension from the Committee of Tory Councillor Terry King (who represents Windlesham) for a breach of Standards Board regulations.

"The Tories are acting like a bunch of spoilt kids," said Councillor Whitcroft. "Instead of accepting the Standards Board ruling, they are refusing to nominate a replacement. They are not quite holding their breath and stamping their feet, but they are very close to it!

"The refusal to put an alternative member on to the Planning Committee is a denial of the democratic process and if they are not prepared to take their responsibilities seriously, the Liberal Democrat Council Group will happily put somebody forward.

"If the Tories carry on in this crazy way for much longer, members of the public will start wondering if there is really some substance to the Standards allegations being made about members of the Tory group!"