Broadland District Council’s planning committee had twice rejected proposals from Crocus Homes to build houses, apartments, a country park and car park on 50 acres of farmland at Leffins Lane in Acle.

But following an intervention from the council’s monitoring officer, Emma Hodds, councillors reversed course and voted to approve the scheme.

Cllr Jimmi Lee, who represents Acle on the council, has accused Ms Hodds of overstepping her role and is calling for an independent investigation into what he describes as “improper” involvement in the decision-making process.

'Constitutionally improper'

Councillor Jimmi Lee, who represents Acle on Broadland District Council.(Image: Broadland District Council)

The meeting, held on October 8, saw the committee repeatedly deadlocked before planning officers adjourned proceedings to seek advice from Ms Hodds.

When the meeting resumed, she told members she had “reminded” them of their role, and that if they were minded to reject the application against officer recommendations, they would need “good planning policy reasons” to do so.

In a letter to the council’s managing director, Cllr Lee described the intervention as........

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