Complaint made as deal gets go ahead

The deal to move homeless people i nto St Michael’s Gate got the final go-ahead last week, leading to angry exchanges.

Peterborough City Council will nowpayStef& Philips nearly £1 million a year for three years to use 98 properties on the estate as temporary accommodation.

But when a final challenge against the decision dramaticallyfailedatameeting last week, tempers rose between councillors on opposite sides of theargument.

And yesterday afternoon Liberal Democrat member Darren Fower put in a written complaint against Tory cabinet member Cllr David Seaton, saying he directed the words “depressive” then a swear wordat himstraight after the meeting.

Cllr Fower said: “I believe the comment from Cllr Seaton was a reference to mental health issues I suffered with last year.”

Cllr Seaton said: “I have spoken to the legal officer about Cllr Fower’s actions and comments. I have nothing more to add.”

The council’s monitoring officer will now determine whether the matterneedsto be formally investigated.

Cllr Fower was one of three Liberal Democrats to call- in the council’s St Michael’s Gate deal. The call-in, if approvedbyascrutiny committee, would have forced the council’s cabinet to reconsider its decision.

The casting vote went to committee chair Cllr Steve Allen. He said: “I think the business model of Stef & Philips stinks like last week’s fish,” but added: “I’m doing this with a heavy heart - I’m not supporting the call-in.”