An application by the government minister in charge of planning for a development on his own land has been thrown out by the planning committee.

The application (18/01013/B) for the construction of an agricultural building on the site of a former cow shed at Geoffrey Boot’s home at Ballagarraghyn Mansion, Greeba, sparked accusations of conflict of interest.

It had been recommended for approval by planning officers.

The application by the Environment, Food and Agriculture Minister was not ’called in’ by the Council of Ministers - despite the fact that the planning and building control directorate comes under his department and, by law, Glenfaba and Peel MHK Mr Boot is DEFA.

Campaigner Trevor Cowin claimed the conflict of interest was ’as plain as the nose on one’s face’.

fairness

German Commissioners had also objected to the plan and argued it should have been considered by an independent inspector ’in the interests of fairness and transparency’.

But on Monday, the planning committee refused the application for the building, which was to have been used for the storage of a tractor, a Rhino buggy and a quad bike.

Chairman Tim Baker said: ’This demonstrates the independence of the planning committee and undermines the arguments advanced at length by Mr Cowin.’

A report by planning officer Sarah Corlett had recommended the application be approved, despite it not complying with the strategic plan which has a presumption against development in the countryside.

She said that, while there were other buildings that could be used for storage of vehicles and equipment, they could be better put to other uses that would ensure their continued maintenance as structures of historic or architectural interest.

Miss Corlett noted that CoMin had not ’called in’ the application.

She said: ’It has been suggested that, as the applicant is the Minister who represents the department, it is not appropriate for the same department, in the form of the planning committee or any officer with authority delegated from the Minister, to take a decision on this application as there is a conflict of interest.’

But she added: ’This is a personal, rather than departmental application. Whilst the Minister is legally perceived to be the department, the Minister in his role as the department, is divisible from his private life.

’The department has carefully considered the legal, governance and conflicts of interests issues in relation to the personal application for planning approval and has determined that the application is capable of being determined by the committee.’