If Labour cannot organise a planning vote in Aylestone properly, how can they be trusted to run the Unitary Authority of Leicester?
The Leicester Mercury reported this week a planning meeting descended into 'Chaos and confusion' as Councillors botched a vote on controversial proposals for a block of new flats in Aylestone.
After 30 minutes of debate, Planning Committee Chair, Cllr Ted Cassidy, ( Labour, Fosse Ward) proposed members vote to support the view of planning officials who said there was no reason to refuse permission.
A second Councillor is required to support motions before a vote can be held and Vice-Chair of the Committee, Cllr Theresa Aldred ( Labour, Thurncourt Ward) agreed to do so, casting a vote in favour.
Seven Councillors on the committee abstained.
There was a query from one Councillor concerning the vote and it was agreed to re-run it, but on this occasion Cllr Aldred also abstained.
The Chair suggested the motion had been passed unaware of Cllr Aldred voting "twice".
The vote was deemed invalid.
Aylestone Ward's Liberal Democrat Councillor, Nigel Porter said "Total chaos and confusion, caused by Councillors who have no idea what they are doing. What is the public to make of that shambles." Cllr Porter opposes the development as do many Aylestone residents went on to say "Those Councillors should have had the bottle to refuse this because residents don't want it, but they nearly all abstained and one of them didn't seem to know what she thought."
