THE findings of an independent report that cleared a councillor of trying to improperly influence the decision on his own planning application have been accepted.

On Tuesday, BCP Council’s standards committee backed the judgment that councillor Peter Hall had not breached the council’s code of conduct during determination of his plans in 2019.

Councillor Ann Stribley, who is also a member of the planning committee that considered the application, said she did not his actions had swayed the decision.

The planning application, submitted by Cllr Hall, sought permission to install a new window and increase the size of an existing one at his St Margaret’s Avenue home in Christchurch.

It also tried to overturn a previous restriction that another window be made with obscure glazing.

In June 2019, the council’s planning committee narrowly agreed to approve the application.

Although he is a member of the committee, Cllr Hall left the room for his application, after making a statement in support of it.

But during the discussion a note was passed to a council lawyer by his supporter saying a partial approval would be accepted.

This was read out, in breach of the rules and the committee was then told to “disregard” its content. It was later ruled he had not been involved in writing it.

Following the meeting, a formal complaint was lodged against his conduct.

It alleged he had:

  1. Tried to use his position to influence the planning officer,
  2. that he had tried to persuade the committee to go against the initial application, implying he had been misled,
  3. that he had not correctly left the meeting and had been involved in the passing of the note,
  4. and that he had attempted to set a precedent by asking for the previous planning condition to be removed.

Following the lodging of the complaint, the standards committee commissioned an independent investigation, led by Milton Keynes Council legal officer Janet Kealey.

She found there had been no breach of the code of conduct.

Her findings were unanimously agreed by BCP Council’s standards committee on Tuesday (January 12).

Cllr Stribley said Cllr Hall's actions had had no bearing on the decision made by the planning committee.