Development Committee (Planning)

At last nights meeting there was only one item on the list, a change of use for a premises in Rochford Town Centre just of the Primary and Secondary shop frontages.  The change of use was from Car Showroom to a Restaurant and Takeaway.  Although this was fairly contentious being I believe the 16th takeaway in the area (although those 16 included the Conservative Club and a couple of bakers and a cafe) what most concerned me were the number of councillors who attended.

I have mentioned the attendance of the Tory Councillors before and the numbers that are very often absent.  On this occasion out of 32  Tory Councillors only 14 attended (total council membership is 39) meaning that 18 were absent or over 55% of them.  Neither of the other two Councillors for Hullbridge were in attendance (both Tory) and it does shock me by how many councillors are absent from these important meetings.

The result of the meeting by the way was for refusal of the application.