Deputy Taylor will make his statement four weeks after alleging impropriety within the Authority when resigning as its Vice President on the morning of a high-profile open planning meeting on the proposed development at Leale’s Yard.
“I have requested the opportunity to give my resignation statement in next week’s States’ meeting,” said Deputy Taylor, pictured (top right).
“Whilst I could have given a statement in the last meeting, I decided against this, partly due to the tight timeframes involved but primarily due to the large backlog of important debates that we needed to tackle.
“It would be premature to go into the details of such a statement now, but it is important that a statement is given to expand upon the reasons previously given, and to give more clarity to the extent of my concerns.”
Pictured: Deputy Andrew Taylor will use parliamentary privilege in the States to explain why he thinks the Development & Planning Authority mishandled the Co-op’s application to develop Leale’s Yard.
The remaining four members of the Authority granted conditional permission for the Co-op and its development partner to turn Leale’s Yard, a former industrial site just off The Bridge, into more than 300 homes, 5,800sqm of retail space, 8,000sqm of commercial space, a multi-storey car park, new service roads and green spaces.
But just half an hour before the open planning meeting on 16 November, Deputy Taylor said he was resigning, raised concerns about “conflicts of interest” within the Authority, and accused other members of “pre-determination” of the Leale’s Yard application.
At the time, Deputy Taylor said: “Whilst supportive of the principle of regeneration of the Bridge area, my concerns surrounding this particular application have increased significantly in recent weeks, ultimately leading to this decision.
“My concerns relate principally to conflicts of interest and an apparent disregard for the [States’] Rules of Procedure; meetings that have taken place without the knowledge of all Authority members and without minutes being shared; and pre-determination of members.”
The other members of the Authority – including its President, Deputy Victoria Oliver, pictured (top left) – said at the start of the open planning meeting that they had no conflict of interest in the planning application for Leale’s Yard.
Pictured: Deputy Taylor was absent from the open planning meeting to consider the Leale’s Yard application having announced his resignation just 30 minutes earlier.
Deputy Taylor’s resignation statement at next week’s States’ meeting will be made at a time determined by the Presiding Officer, the Bailiff.
A resignation statement must not exceed 15 minutes. The Rules of Procedure do not provide other States’ members with an opportunity to ask questions of the member making a resignation statement.
The States will also elect two new members of the Authority at their final meeting before Christmas – one to replace Deputy Taylor and one to replace Deputy Bob Murray, who had to resign recently after being elected to the Policy & Resources Committee.
Express understands that at least three deputies have registered an interest in standing for the two vacancies on the Authority.
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