Simon
Barnes

Simon has a deep knowledge of and enthusiasm for local government having worked as a senior lawyer at Bath and North East Somerset (‘B&NES’) Council for over 15 years specialising in all aspects of planning and environment, licensing, and governance. Highlights include many years leading a legal team, sitting as the legal advisor to the planning and licensing committees, serving as Deputy Monitoring Officer; and defending claims for judicial review. Having practised planning in an area which is subject to an exceptional number of development constraints, Simon has particular expertise in: green belts, listed buildings, conservation areas, AONBs, and special areas of conservation.

Simon is passionate about good governance and is interested in democratic and constitutional issues at both a local and national level. In 2021 he was appointed by the Secretary of State as an Assistant parliamentary Boundary Commissioner and worked as part of a team to review the parliamentary constituency boundaries of the North East of England.

Simon also has a keen interest in professional conduct and standards. He sits on standards committees and panels for a wide variety of regulatory and chartered organisations including: Chair of fitness to practise panels at the Health and Care Professions Council and Legally Qualified Chair at the Taxation Disciplinary Board.

In addition to his legal practice, Simon is a qualified mediator.

Simon holds a higher-level diploma in planning law and has over 15 years of experience as a senior in-house lawyer in local government during which he led the planning law team at Bath and North East Somerset Council. This included appearing as an advocate in planning appeals and prosecutions and sitting as legal advisor to the planning committee. He served as Deputy Monitoring Officer and has substantial experience of member conduct and standards, governance, and constitutional issues. 

At the Bar he has continued to pursue his enthusiasm for planning. He recently appeared (unled) acting for Rule 6 parties at the Highsted Park planning inquiry, a proposed scheme in Kent including up to 8,400 homes, relief roads, and a new junction onto the M2. This was one of the largest proposals ever to be called in by the Secretary of State

At a national level, he was appointed by the Secretary of State to serve as an Assistant parliamentary Boundary Commissioner in the most recent review of parliamentary constituency boundaries.

He is an active member of the southwest regional committee of the UK Environmental Law Association.

Recent publications in Local Government Lawyer:

• ‘Mediation in planning – a look over the border’ 
• ‘World Heritage Sites – the Stonehenge judgment’  

Recent webinar

• ‘Build, Baby, Build — Now Where Does Nature Go? Nature and Planning: An Ecosystem-Based Perspective’ (for UKELA)

Simon specialises in police misconduct hearings, including accelerated hearings. He is equally happy to appear as Counsel or to act as Legal Advisor to the Chair/Panel. He has sat as a Legal Advisor to Panels/Chairs for the following forces: the Metropolitan Police, Wiltshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, and the Civil Nuclear Constabulary. He has particular experience of:

• Applications for anonymity/sitting in private 
• Dishonesty / lack of integrity
• Contested hearsay applications 
• Former officers
• Body worn video 
• Application of the ‘presumption of dismissal’ for gross misconduct
• Drafting final reports when delegated to do so

Simon has a wide and varied experience of chairing or sitting on disciplinary tribunals, standards committees and investigating committees including in the fields of: healthcare, taxation, architecture, linguistics; and public relations. 

Current appointments include Legally Qualified Chair at the Taxation Disciplinary Board and Chair of fitness to practise panels at the Health and Care Professions Council. A full list of appointments is below. 

Simon is happy to consider instructions as Counsel in professional disciplinary matters. 

Current Appointments

• Taxation Disciplinary Board - Legally Qualified Chair 
• Health and Care Professions Council - Chair of fitness to practise panels 
• Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner - Independent Scrutiny of Police Complaints Panel – Member (previously Chair / Deputy Chair)
• Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon - Legal Advisor to police misconduct hearings 
• East Midlands Police and Crime Commissioners’ panel - Legal Advisor to police misconduct hearings 
• Chartered Institute of Management Accountants’ Appeal Panel - Lay Member 
• Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy Regulatory Panel - Lay Member 

Previous Appointments

• Boundary Commission for England - Assistant Commissioner
• National Register of Public Service Interpreters’ Disciplinary Committee – Chair / Deputy Chair / Lay Member
• South Wales Fire and Rescue Authority Standards Committee – Deputy Chair / Independent Member 
• Royal Institute of British Architects’ Standards Committee - Lay Member 
• Chartered Institute of Public Relations’ Professional Standards Panel – Lay Member 

Professional Memberships

• UK Environmental Law Association 
• Planning and Environment Bar Association 
• Civil Mediation Council (Associate Mediator)