He insisted that, because officers did not feel the plans broke anti-discrimination laws, councillors could not decide they did as officers “would never be in breach of legislation”.
However, Cllr Paul Canal (Con, Bridge) replied that assessing the effect of plans on marginalised groups was “sometimes a matter of judgement”.
Explaining his reasons for objecting to the minutes, he added: “I have no desire to put the council at risk of costs but I’m also keen to put up a good case if this does go to appeal.”
Legal officer Andrew Swaffer explained concerns about discrimination were not included in the minutes because committee chair Cllr Jyotsna Islam (Lab, Aldborough), who voted for the development, “decided she could not agree”.
Ilford Town Hall and Ilford High Street 21/5/14 EL77212 2. Redbridge councillors angered by seeming erasure of their concerns about disabled parking have ignored legal advice and defied a senior officer. The council s planning committee, made up of nine Labour and two Conservative councillors, voted last night (December 9) not to accept the minutes of the previous meeting (November 19). However, their concern that this would amount to discriminating against the college s 75 disabled students was left out of the minutes after the head of planning argued it was not a worthwhile reason for refusing. The vote, usually a formality, saw only three Labour members agree the minutes written by head of planning Brett Leahy were an accurate reflection of the previous meeting.