Norma Redfern Labours Candidate for North Tyneside Mayor

Dear Resident, I write to you to explain the situation around the lease

that was granted for the Pitch and Putt Golf  Complex on the Links at

Whitley Bay. The situation has been confused by others associated

with the council  and has caused unrest  and even some anger

amongst local residents about the proposals that recently went in

front of the Planning Committee.

The Planning Committee has to operate with open minds and is not a committee that is allowed to be politically controlled. It has to make a decision based on planning criteria and planning legislation. So when you  as residents receive messages that the planning committee acted Politically when making decisions then it is suggesting that councillors of all persuasions are acting unlawfully.

I can inform you that the Labour Group of Councillors do not make pre decisions and certainly do not use the political whipping system on planning or other quasi judicial committees. I hope that you can accept my assurance that this is a serious matter and those that attempt to mislead you on these matters are doing so to distract from the real facts.

The Labour Group have tabled the following motion for discussion at the Council Meeting on Thursday 29th November 2012 -

“This Council seeks clarification of the lease arrangements for the pitch and putt golf facility on the Links in St Mary’s Ward. In particular, the Clauses contained within the lease which require landlord approval to change and/or alter or extend the building. Council would like a full explanation on who has the responsibility for agreeing the lease and which Cabinet Member was involved in agreeing the lease.”

We are seeking information to ensure public scrutiny of the decisions taken or not taken with the golf facilities. We believe the responsibility for granting permission to any alterations, reconfigurations is the Executive of the Council—namely the Cabinet members. So even with Planning permission being granted it is the conditions contained within the lease which actually controls what is allowed to happen with the facilities, and the Council have to provide written permission before it can be carried out.

Our Group wanted to bring this to your attention as two of your Ward Councillors are Cabinet Members and do have an opportunity to raise the issue in their role as Executive Members. We believe that attempting to pass responsibility on to the Planning Committee is a total smokescreen and actually does not tell you the residents the full facts in an open and honest manner.

We are determined to work with Residents and support them as much as we can, please feel free to make contact on this or any other matter you have a concern about.

Yours faithfully

Norma Redfearn