Agenda and draft minutes

There were none.

There were none.

To elect a Chairman in accordance with Standing Order No. 29.

The Committee proceeded to elect a Chairman for the meeting in accordance with Standing Order No. 29. Nigel Challis, being the only Member expressing a willingness to serve, was duly elected and took the Chair.

RESOLVED: That Nigel Challis be elected as Chairman for the meeting of the Dispensations Sub Committee. 

The Sub Committee is asked to consider a written request for a dispensation from Ms Ann Holmes (Common Councilman for the Ward of Farringdon Within).

The Sub Committee considered a written request for a dispensation from Ms Ann Holmes, a Common Councilman for the Ward of Farringdon Within.

It was noted that the request for a dispensation under Section 33 (2) of the Localism Act 2011 concerned Ms Holmes’ disclosable pecuniary interest as the owner of a property within the Ward which was affected by the ongoing Bart’s Square property development.  Ms Holmes' request to the Sub Committee, to participate in any discussion and vote on matters relating the Bart’s Square development and any other planning developments taking place within the Ward of Farringdon Within, was based on the following grounds:-

(i) that the dispensation was in the interests of persons living (or in the City’s case, living or working) in the authority’s area; and/or

(ii) that it is otherwise appropriate to grant a dispensation.

It was noted that Ms Holmes had submitted the request with a particular view to speaking at a meeting of the Planning & Transportation Committee taking place on 23 September 2014. However, she was also seeking a more general dispensation to cover the period up to the next Ward elections in 2017, to cover both speaking and voting at relevant meetings.

Following confirmation from the Comptroller & City Solicitor regarding the grounds on which a dispensation could be granted, the Sub Committee considered the request.  The Sub Committee felt that the various elements of the request would be best considered separately, first considering the request to speak at meetings of the Planning & Transportation Committee as a non-voting attendee, rather than as an elected Member of the Committee.

Members noted that Ms Holmes had campaigned for election partly on the basis of representing the residents of her Ward on local planning issues, particularly the Bart’s Square development. It was clarified that

There were no urgent items.