Brent Council was forced to defer a planning application at a school after it failed to disclose all available documents to the public.
Objectors to plans for a new artificial sports pitch and cricket nets, alongside new floodlights, at Claremont School, in Kenton, asked for the item to be removed from a planning agenda last month.
They argued some public documents attached to the application were not available on the council’s website, which effectively jeopardised the legitimacy of any consultation.
The council agreed with this assessment and advised the planning committee to discuss the proposals at a later date.
In a report presented to the committee, it said: “It has been found that some of the supporting documents were not available to view on the public web site.
“The deferral will allow re-consultation to be undertaken and any further comments to be considered.”
Prior to its deferral, council officers recommended that the committee approve the application.
Supporters of this scheme highlighted the increased health and sporting opportunities for both the school and the wider community, given it could be rented out.
However, there were some concerns around increased traffic and the impact of floodlights on neighbouring properties.
The decision to defer the application follows on from the council’s intentions to publish all comments attached to planning cases online, including those by statutory consultees.
There is no legal obligation to do so but it comes after a campaign by local historian Philip Grant, who argued publishing these comments would increase openness and transparency.
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