The Cambridgeshire district council renowned in heritage circles for its attack on ‘heritage bunny-huggers’ has disbanded its entire planning committee.
It has also set aside decisions made in relation to two proposed supermarket developments following concern over judicial reviews.
The move by Fenland District Council came after the local authority obtained advice from a specialist barrister on its legal position and possible financial liability.
In August, the council’s planning committee had approved an application by a developer on behalf of Sainsbury’s for a supermarket in Whittlesey and rejected one put in on behalf of Tesco. However, at a meeting the following month, the Tesco application was approved.
In a statement, councillor Alan Melton, Fenland’s leader, said: ‘The recent decision to grant planning permission to two stores in Whittlesey has caused a public and media outcry. There is a perception that officers’ advice has been completely ignored and the council has granted three unsustainable decisions. ‘
Councillor Melton explained that the legal advice held that the decisions reached were unsound and would not stand up to challenge in the High Court.
The committee will be reconstituted but not until anyone expecting to serve on it has received training.
The council said fresh reports on the applications would be prepared, with the reconstituted planning committee expected to meet in January 2013 to reconsider the proposals.
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