A formal complaint has been lodged with Swindon Borough Council against the leader of the Conservative opposition group Councillor Gary Sumer

But Cllr Sumner said the complaint is untrue and added that the investigative process will find it baseless.

The complaint has been lodged by Graham Woodward on behalf of The Residents Association of Westcott Area ‘K’ and the surrounding district, following the council planning committee’s decision to permit a development along Newburn Sidings.

Developer One Swindon will now look to build more than 250 houses and flats along Newburn Sidings, between Rodbourne Road and Wootton Basset road.

Mr Woodward spoke against the development at the meeting citing fears of pollution caused by the disturbance of asbestos in the ground.

Cllr Sumner, a member of the committee, spoke largely in favour of the scheme and proposed that councillors vote in accordance with the planning officer’s report which recommended approval.

After some further discussion, the committee voted to approve the scheme by 11 votes to one.

Mr Woodward’s complaint alleges that this intervention had an undue effect on the committee.

It also says that his professional life, where he runs a property lettings company means he is in a position to benefit from the development going ahead and that he may well know the applicant and says this interest should have been declared and possibly disqualified him from taking part in that portion of the meeting.

Swindon Borough Council's conduct procedures are private and confidential, and the authority can not even confirm it has received a complaint against Cllr Sumner.

But he said the complaint was not valid and added: ”I proposed granting consent based purely on sound planning argument and the professional recommendation was to grant.

“If we had refused the application then the applicant would have appealed and the council would have faced substantial costs.

Graham Woodward, 2nd right, and other campaigners against the development of Newburn Sidings  (Image: Aled Thomas) “I am in no way connected with the applicant but having been in the property business for 40 years there are few people in that sector that I don’t know.”

Members of council committees who would directly financially benefit from measures being discussed are not allowed to take part in or vote in debates.

Members of the planning committee are not supposed to decide their stance on applications before the meeting and are obliged to listen to all speakers in a debate before making their minds up.

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