Horsham District Council has been accused of ‘a lack of transparency’ after a discussion about a planning appeal was held behind closed doors.
During a meeting of the planning committee, the public was told to leave the room while members were updated on the appeal regarding an application for West Chiltington.
The application, from Castle Properties, to build 14 homes on land west of Smock Alley was turned down in April, against the advice of officers.
Castle Properties launched an appeal, and a hearing is scheduled to be held on Tuesday November 5.
Around a dozen members of the Smock Alley Action Group attended the latest planning meeting, concerned as to why they would not be allowed to hear what was said.
The meeting’s agenda gave the reasons as being financial and legal.
While Philip Circus (Con, West Chiltington, Thakeham & Ashington) wanted a public debate before any vote was taken, chairman Len Ellis-Brown (Green, Pulborough, Coldwaltham & Amberley) refused.
He said that discussion in public ‘could be prejudicial to the council’s position in relation to the appeal’.
Mr Circus called on the legal officer for confirmation, and she said a debate would be ‘unwise’ but that it was down to the chairman’s discretion.
Some 40 minutes later, the public was allowed back into the room to hear the result of a vote – but officers refused to say what councillors had been voting on.
Campaigners had their suspicions.
When asked later if the council would even be contesting the appeal, a spokesman said: “This situation was discussed in an exempt session and therefore this information cannot be released into the public domain at this time.”
Sharon Davis, of the Action Group, said the decision to discuss the situation in private raised ‘serious concerns about transparency’.
She added: “It suggests that the council may prioritise protecting its own reputation over providing clarity and openness to the public, who fund these processes.
“The lack of transparency in this case is deeply troubling, particularly given the significant local opposition to the development.
“This is the third appeal concerning this site, which has been a point of contention for over ten years.
“More than 200 families from the village have objected to this development, which makes the council’s decision to hold the debate in private even more questionable.”
Anyone wishing to send a statement to the Planning Inspectorate before the hearing, should do so by October 11.
The Action Group has organised a petition signed by more than 430 people, which will be submitted.
Ms Davis added: “We are left questioning why this particular application has been handled in such a secretive manner.”
