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.
A COUNCILLOR accused of trying to influence the determination of a planning application for his home has been cleared of wrongdoing in an independent investigation. The complaint against Peter Hall alleged that, at a 2019 meeting of BCP Council’s planning committee, he attempted to sway fellow councillors’ decision. But an independent report says that he had correctly been acting in a personal role at the time and did not breach the code of conduct. 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.