THERE was a dramatic start to the meeting of the Forest Council last Wednesday when the stand-

in chairman stepped down.

Vice-chairman Cllr James Bevan (Con, Lydney East) had been expected to take the reins because Chair Cllr Jane Horne (Con, Tibberton) had been delayed.

But the meeting was thrown into confusion when Cllr Bruce Hogan (Lab, Lydbrook and Ruardean) suggested Cllr Bevan had a conflict of interest after attending a meeting with a planning consultant.

Cllr Hogan said although there was no suggestion of any wrong-

doing, Cllr Bevan’s position at the head of a meeting to discuss potential development sites meant his position was “untenable”.

The Labour councillor said Cllr Bevan, who had an application for a development at Soudley turned down, was one of three members who attended a meeting with the consultant.

He said Cllr Bevan and Cllr Clayton Williams (Con, Redmarley) had a direct interest in the outcome of the debate on the Allocations Plan as it could make their planning applications ‘more acceptable’.

He added: “I would invite them to think what members of the public would think knowing the status of the planning applications they have recently submitted.

“I would not chair a meeting under those circumstances. It is not just a matter of doing what is right but doing what the public believe would be right.

“I don’t think you could convince any member of the public that you could chair a meeting where the failure of this meeting could give you a pecuniary advantage.”

Standing down to applause from the public gallery, Cllr Bevan said: “When I took this office I did declare I would do things in a transparent manner so I will stand down from this meeting tonight.”

Cllr Hogan said: “I think you’ve made the right decision. I imply no wrong-doing whatsoever but you have put yourself in a position that I think was untenable.”

He also called on Cllr Williams and Cllr Gethyn Davies (Con, Tidenham) who were at the meeting not to take part in the evening’s discussion.

Both councillors said there was no reason why they should not take part in the meeting.