Simon Barnes

Areas of law: Planning and Environment, Local Government, Licensing, Planning and Environment, Green belt, Planning enforcement, Planning inquiries and appeals, Planning policy, Listed buildings and the historic environment, Certificates of Lawfulness, Habitats and protected species, Tree preservation orders, Local Government, Monitoring Officer support, Acting as an investigator in conduct complaints about Councillors, Constitutional issues, Governance, Licensing, Licensing Act 2003, Taxi licensing

Simon Barnes is dual qualified as a barrister (practising) and a solicitor (non-practising) and is based in Somerset. He has previously practised as a solicitor in a wide range of law firms, as well as in-house in local government. This has given him an exceptionally wide experience of the legal profession, including in areas which are not commonly found at the Bar such as transactional work, running a team, and case management.

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 as an independent member on standards committees and panels for a wide variety of regulatory and chartered organisations including Panel Chair at the Health and Care Professions Tribunal Service, Deputy Chair of the South Wales Fire and Rescue Authority Standards Committee, and Deputy Chair of the Disciplinary Committee of the National Register of Public Service Interpreters (see below for a full list of appointments).

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

 

Planning and Environment

•  Green belt
•  Planning enforcement
•  Planning inquiries and appeals
•  Planning policy
•  Listed buildings and the historic environment
•  Certificates of Lawfulness
•  Habitats and protected species
•  Tree preservation orders

Local Government

•  Monitoring Officer support
•  Acting as an investigator in conduct complaints about Councillors
•  Constitutional issues
•  Governance

Licensing

•  Licensing Act 2003
•  Taxi licensing

Notable cases include:

•  A three-day licensing appeal relating to a historic property owned by a celebrity which received national press coverage
•  A three-day planning enforcement inquiry relating to the construction of an unauthorised track in a scrap yard
•  Prosecution for removal of a protected tree
•  Securing the demolition of an unauthorised building in the green belt
•  Prosecution for failure to comply with a planning enforcement notice requiring removal of an unauthorised paint spray booth

Whilst in local government, Simon was the lead solicitor in many judical review cases including:

 Hemms, R (on the application of) v Bath And North East Somerset Council & Anor (2020) EWHC 2721 (Admin)

 Buckley, R (on the application of) v Bath And North East Somerset Council & Anor (2018) EWHC 1551 (Admin)

 Save Woolley Valley Action Group Ltd, R (on the application of) v Bath and North East Somerset Council & Anor (2012) EWHC 2161 (Admin)

Appointments

•  Assistant Commissioner (2021 – 2022)
  
•  Boundary Commission for England
•  Panel Chair (2022) Lay Member (2021)
  
•  Health and Care Professions Tribunal Service
  
•  Fitness to practise committees
•  Deputy Chair (2023) Independent Member (2018)
  
•  South Wales Fire and Rescue Authority
  
•  Standards Committee
•  Lay Member (2020 – 2021)
  
•  Royal Institute of British Architects
  
•  Standards Committee
•  Member (previously Chair and Vice Chair) (2015)
  
•  Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner
  
•  Independent Scrutiny of Police Complaints Panel
•  Lay Member (2022)
  
•  Chartered Institute of Management Accountants
  
•  Appeal Panel
•  Lay Member (2019) Deputy Chair (2023)
  
•  National Register of Public Service Interpreters
  
•  Disciplinary Committee
•  Lay Member (2018 – 2023)
  
•  Chartered Institute of Public Relations                                                                              
•  Professional Standards Panel Lay Member (2023)
  
•  Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy Regulatory Panel

•  Called to the Bar in 1999
•  2023 Qualified Mediator
  
•  2007 Higher Level Diploma in Planning Law 
  
•  2003 Admitted as a Solicitor
  
•  1999 Barrister - called to the Bar by Gray’s Inn
  
•  1998 LLB (Hons)