THE chairman in a crunch planning meeting to decide the fate of a massive out-of-town development will only be decided on the night, it has been confirmed.

Colchester Council’s planning committee is set to discuss Tollgate Village shopping and leisure development, in Stanway, on February 18.

Jon Manning, who chaired the last meeting and used his casting vote to provisionally approve the application, is on holiday.

Deputy chairman and Lib Dem colleague Jessica Scott-Boutell, who would normally chair the meeting in his absence, is also unable to attend. Miss Scott- Boutell, who represents the Stanway ward, has confirmed she has a prior commitment, but declined to elaborate. She also voted in favour of the plans.

The council’s legal services manager, Andrew Weavers, said the chairman would be selected on the night. He said: “ The first item of business will be to elect the chairman.

“Nominations will then be put forward by whoever is on the committee, which will have to be seconded and then taken to a vote. That person will then be chairman of the committee for that meeting.” After the last meeting, officers were tasked with producing a report to state the risks of approving the development and any financial implications the council would incur if it gave the plans the green light.

Councillors will be permitted to change their vote, and different councillors from the original vote are now certain to be sitting on the committee.

The plans have created controversy, with town centre traders fearing business would be taken away, but backers of the scheme believe it would be a boost in terms of jobs and amenities.