The legality of the vote held at the District Council meeting is now in question after it was revealed that ten Tory Councilors were found to have publicly declared their opposition to the Southern Growth Arc just prior to it being abandoned last year.

Unusually although there was, apparently, a legal officer present at the meeting, the Tory chairman allowed the head of planning to answer the legal question on whether the Tory Ten had broken any rules. This meant that the Tory Ten, one of them representing Stoke Mandeville village, were told they could vote for the Eastern Arc and making sure that growth steered away from their areas in the south.

Cllr Steven Lambert who formally raised the question said “we sought legal advice throughout this process on what we could and couldn’t say to our residents and were told emphatically that we could not discuss definitive views or positions as this could prejudice our vote. Yet we find that up to ten Tory Councilors have done just that. I have raised this with the head of legal services as the Lib Dem team has been hamstrung yet the Tories have been allowed to say what they want. We are now challenging this decision and are awaiting a formal response.”

Liberal Democrat Town Councilor Julie Ward who represents x ward said “it was obvious that the Tories were going to oppose any motion put forward by the Lib Dems, but to then make a mockery of council protocols on obtaining legal advice is just foolish.

The meeting should have been suspended until proper legal advice was made available. How can you have the officer who put this plan together and therefore has an interest in getting it voted for, give legal advice on whether Councilors can vote or not. This officer is under the guidance of the Tory Cabinet, of course he was going to say its ok! We are now waiting for the response from the head of legal services and are seeking external advice on the matter.”