FOUR councillors will be investigated after meeting the Thandi brothers to discuss their plans to build a new pub at Castle Hill.
Kirklees Council leader Clr Mehboob Khan and three of his Labour colleagues have been reported by Conservative Clr Christine Smith.
The Kirkburton Tory believes the four breached planning protocols by meeting Mick and Barry Thandi at the Sikh Leisure Centre to discuss the proposal to build a new pub.
The businessman bought the Castle Hill Hotel in 1998. It was demolished seven years later following complaints that the businessmen had torn down more of the 200-year-old building than planners had allowed.
Armitage Bridge architect, Mark Lee, told the Examiner in December that the Thandis were ready to submit a planning application to build a new pub exactly the same size as the original.
On February 13, the brothers met a delegation of councillors which included Clr Khan, Labour’s regeneration chief Clr Peter McBride and Greenhead Labour councillors Clr Mohan Sokhal and Clr Judith Hughes.
Clr Smith this week lodged a formal complaint against all four.
“I’ve reported them to the council’s Standards Board for bringing Kirklees into disrepute,” she said.
“All four of them are in blatant breach of planning protocol. They didn’t have a council officer at the meeting and they didn’t inform the chief executive.
“It’s a simple and straightforward case and I’m amazed they went ahead with the meeting.”
However, Clr Smith has not reported her Conservative colleague Clr Ken Sims, who also attended the meeting.
Clr Smith, who is group business manager for the Conservatives, has banned Clr Sims from sitting on a planning committee which considers any application from the Thandis.
“I’ve not reported him because he’s already been disciplined,” she said.
Clr McBride criticised Clr Smith last night.
“This is astonishing hypocrisy on her part,” he said.
“There can be no doubt whatsoever that her actions are down to petty and ill-judged politics as she has made a complaint about four Labour councillors whilst ignoring the fact that her own Tory colleague, Clr Sims, was at the very same meeting.
“It’s ridiculous to overlook that fact and it’s equally ridiculous for such a spurious complaint to be made.
“Clr Sims himself has stated that attending this meeting was the right thing to do, so there is clearly a fundamental disagreement in Tory ranks.
“Clr Smith is fully aware that no planning applications have been submitted and there is nothing particularly unusual about a meeting like this.
“There was nothing untoward and any taxpayer can ask to meet a local councillor.
“Despite all of that, she has made a politically motivated complaint which will be a total waste of officer time and, therefore, taxpayers’ money.”
