harassed by... the parish council?!

bazaarboy

bazaarboy

bazaarboy

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Joined
22 Jun 2009
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813
Location
Norwich
so a few years ago we moved into our home, in a rural village.
we love living here and generally we keep ourselves to ourselves

when we first moved in the local Parish Councillors got in touch (one lady in particular) and was generally being friendly.
Soon after she began pressing us to campaign against a local planning application for a small-scale housing development (2 miles away from us).
We didnt really want to participate in the wave of objections, after all, our home was a new build.
The Parish lady seemed miffed that we weren't enthusiastically doing what she wanted, and over the next few months started making bad comments about us, some derogatory remarks, generally throwing shade.
We figured she was still mad about us not going along with what she wanted. We ignored her and time went by.

A few months ago we decided to build a summer house in our garden - a very small timber structure. It needed planning permission and somewhat to our surprise the Parish Council (basically this lady) put in a huge effort in objecting / complaining about our application. Without even talking to us they made a long-winded objection, citing personal information, inaccurate details of our existing home, the proposal we're making - just trying anything to get our application rejected. All of what she's saying is inaccurate, but also contains some personal info that we're not happy having been made public.

Is there any way to get this person to stop harassing us? Who could I even complain to? The parish council is publically funded, and at the very least they should observe GDPR rules.

thnx
 
If there's personal information she's made public in her role (and it is clearly not relevant to the planning application) then initially raise a formal written complaint to the Parish Council. If you are not happy with the outcome, then you can raise a complaint to the ICO, see here: https://ico.org.uk/your-data-matters/the-right-to-object-to-the-use-of-your-data/

Keep it all in writing and keep it civil. It sounds like she's a bully and just expects to be obeyed, so you need to draw a line in the sand.

How much free time do you have ? You could also stand against her next time elections for the parish council come up and take away her "power". Chances are she's hacked off others too and because nobody CBA to do that job, she wins by default.
 
Just go to the next meeting and have it out with her.

Have had to tell our local one to do one a few times.

Failing that run against her next time and butter up a few neighbours for votes. Usually only ever a handful of votes in these things . Then oust her.
 
If she’s disclosed personal info and breached the Data Protection Act then report her to the ICO. Can’t see whoever’s above her on the totem pole being exactly chuffed if she brings down an ICO investigation and a potential audit down on them.
 
Need to go all Mark Corrigan on her. Hostile takeover and then spend all the parish council money on your new (larger) summer house.
 
bazaarboy said:
so a few years ago we moved into our home, in a rural village.
we love living here and generally we keep ourselves to ourselves

when we first moved in the local Parish Councillors got in touch (one lady in particular) and was generally being friendly.
Soon after she began pressing us to campaign against a local planning application for a small-scale housing development (2 miles away from us).
We didnt really want to participate in the wave of objections, after all, our home was a new build.
The Parish lady seemed miffed that we weren't enthusiastically doing what she wanted, and over the next few months started making bad comments about us, some derogatory remarks, generally throwing shade.
We figured she was still mad about us not going along with what she wanted. We ignored her and time went by.

A few months ago we decided to build a summer house in our garden - a very small timber structure. It needed planning permission and somewhat to our surprise the Parish Council (basically this lady) put in a huge effort in objecting / complaining about our application. Without even talking to us they made a long-winded objection, citing personal information, inaccurate details of our existing home, the proposal we're making - just trying anything to get our application rejected. All of what she's saying is inaccurate, but also contains some personal info that we're not happy having been made public.

Is there any way to get this person to stop harassing us? Who could I even complain to? The parish council is publically funded, and at the very least they should observe GDPR rules.

thnx
Click to expand...

You need to contact the District Council - its a breach of code of conduct.

(My Mum is on the Parish Council and guess what...handles the planning applications :p )
 
Seems rather personal, some surprise fly tipping on her door step, don't get caught in the act. Go over her head and make an official compliant and appeal any decision that doesn't go your way, she sound like a busybody that has got things all her own way.
 
I came across the GDPR thing when wanting to comment on a planning application (which was one of those 'we held a consultation' (but didn't tell you about it) things) - but I couldn't even comment without my name, address, phone, email, everything being public - to me that makes it impossible for a person with half a braincell to comment.
 
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