I would like to add my comment about the past behaviour of the South Newnham Neighbourhood Forum.

As a local resident and a professional working with a Planning Service I found it uneasy to accept the sheer influence the Forum has shown in the past intervening in the planning process, and in a way - abusing its powers.

The self appointed Forum is made mostly of well established residents, most of them retired who have the (property) interest and time to invest in such an enterprise.

They share similar socio-economic backgrounds, and the same conservative views of the built environment.

As an agent I found out that the group is essentially a like minded group of friends who back each other up in objecting to others' planning applications.

In the manner of 'you'll scratch my back and I will scratch yours', an acting member of the Forum, who was also a neighbour to a planning application I dealt with, rallied the troops - so to speak, and emailed all his friends to object to the application. They all used the same wording this member has dictated, and in addition, published and signed an objection on behalf of the Forum, as a formal consultant in the process.

In addition, under these powers the member also reached out to the local Councillor who, for fear of losing electoral backing, had to call this case into committee.

In my view - this Forum, with its current membership who is looking to be reappointed, has not acted honestly, and there is no mechanism to monitor its actions, or to curb its actions.

As this term is coming to an end, I would at least suggest that the Council sees to it that the Forum reshuffles the roles and address its actions with due care for all the neighbours, whether they are included in the Forum or not.