‘Wrong button’ decision to stand as council says U-turn would cost £5m

MOVES to revoke a controversial planning decision, given the go-ahead after a councillor mistakenly backed the housing scheme, have been vetoed by councillors after members were told it could cost millions of pounds.

Members of Ryedale District Council earlier backed plans to build 260 homes in the market town of Kirkbymoorside but were told at a meeting that overturning the decision was likely to cost between £3m and £5m.

Residents packed a special meeting of the district council this week, called by the authority’s Liberal group.

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The council’s planning committee approved the plan by house builders Gladman in August on the casting vote of chairman, Coun John Raper, after six members abstained and four others voted 2-2.

It was later revealed Coun David Cussons had inadvertently pressed the wrong button on the electronic voting system, in support of the scheme, after earlier moving its rejection.

Council leader, Coun Linda Cowling said she had sympathy with the way the Gladman application had been dealt with, but added that councillors seeking to overturn the decision were “asking Ryedale Council to bankrupt itself” and warned it would result in swingeing closures of services and would also cause job losses.

Coun John Clark, leader of the Liberal group, claimed the “proper process” had not be followed in the planning decision because issues such as its impact on the A170 had not been debated.

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Council solicitor, Anthony Winship, told the council: “It is unlikely that the council will be able to persuade the Secretary of State that it is expedient to revoke the permission, if any revocation is opposed. In deciding whether to revoke the council will take into account the compensation that would be due, estimated at between £3m and £5m.”