Ridicule heaped on Norwich Greens over City Hall farce

But a key meeting to decide whether or not to allow the demolition of the former Debenhams department store to make way for almost 400 student flats turned into farce after two councillors left before the end, meaning an earlier vote to block the scheme was overturned.

Norwich City Council's planning committee initially opted not to approve the application on a knife-edge vote of five to four, with one abstention.

The issue split on party lines, with all those in favour from Labour and all the opponents Green.

What the student flats could look like (Image: Orford House Developments)

The City Hall hearing was then paused after two hours and 40 minutes for an adjournment of around 15 minutes to allow the councillors who had rejected the scheme to come up with their reasons for doing so, which would then be subject to a second vote.

However, when the meeting restarted it emerged that two of the committee's Green councillors who had both voted against the scheme - Charlie Caine and Jenny Knight - had left the building.

How street scenes in Norwich will change through the student flats development at the former Debenhams store (Image: Norwich City Council)

It meant that when the committee voted again on rejecting the plans, it was defeated by four to three votes, meaning the proposal was approved.

The bizarre scenes have angered opponents of the project who had hoped to stop it, and heaped fresh ridicule on the Greens who have faced criticism for their poor attendance record at the council.

The party said that one of the vanishing councillors had gone to an interview while the other had an appointment.

Jenny Knight, a Norwich Green councillor (Image: Jenny Knight)

Councillor Knight, who had a job interview, said: "Both of us had communicated this to officers beforehand and we tried to stay as long as we could.

"I'm very disappointed that I wasn't able to stay any longer."

Charlie Caine, a Green councillor (Image: Newsquest)

Labour opponents have pointed out that the meeting had not particularly overrun and questioned why other commitments had been scheduled to clash with such an important hearing.

A Labour source at the council said the strange incident was a further sign of "Green chaos" at the authority.

"For them to then leave before the decision was concluded was farcical. We've all had enough of Green chaos. They should stand aside if they can't take their duties seriously."

The pair's absence from the crunch vote comes amid wider scrutiny of the Norwich Green party group's attendance at important meetings.

How street scenes in Norwich will change through the student flats development at the former Debenhams store (Image: Norwich City Council)

In the past 12 months, Greens accounted for 64pc of the absences recorded at full council meetings, compared to 32pc for Labour, the other major party at the authority.

Their members have also been involved in a string of scandals, including Charlie Caine who was accused of shouting "Nazis" at a group of women holding a silent vigil for women in Afghanistan.

The party refused to investigate complaints about the affair after discovering the councillor had never actually joined the party in the first place.

The scandal - known as Nazigate - then embroiled another Green, the then party leader, Alex Catt, who is awaiting a standards hearing after he accused Norwich Labour of "fuelling a transphobic" campaign by highlighting the allegations against councillor Caine, who is a biological female who identifies as a male.

Separately, Liam Calvert, another Green who criticised the council for the state of its housing, was accused of "hypocrisy" after his tenants said he had failed to address damp issues in their home.

The Greens initially suspended him but he was then allowed back in after 10 of his opponents failed to gain a large enough majority to oust him from the 16-strong group.

Councillor Calvert was also allowed to cast a vote over his position in the group.

STUDENT DIGS SAGA

Plans to partially demolish the former Debenhams store in Red Lion Street have proved controversial.

University of East Anglia officials have said there was not enough demand for more student flats, noting they had empty apartments on campus.

Stephen Wells, director of estates, told the meeting: "This will threaten the long-term viability of the campus model at the UEA... This should be refused as there is clearly no demand."

Heritage groups and the council's own conservation officers have also opposed the scheme in a bid to protect the landmark building from being knocked down.

However, council officers were strongly supportive of the flats, arguing it was likely the only viable option for the former department store, which has been shut since 2021.

Additionally, the council has not been able to show it has a five-year supply of land for housing. This means it is under pressure to approve new housing developments.

Matt Horne, development director for Orford House Developments, which is behind the scheme, added: "Quite simply, there are two options. Vote to transform a disused building that is of no beneficial use into high-quality student accommodation, bringing life back to this part of the city centre.

"Or you can go against the recommendation and the building will continue to blight the city for years to come."

During the meeting's debate, both Labour and Green councillors voiced concerns about the proposal.

But ultimately, the scheme was approved after a majority of Labour councillors supported it.