Tendring Council Leader Voices Opposition to National Planning Changes
District council reluctantly adopts new government scheme that reduces local say on planning decisions.
By Eleanor Paget
••3 min read
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Generic image of a British town hall facade under an overcast sky.
Tendring District Council has formally opposed new government planning regulations that will reduce the ability of local councillors to influence planning decisions, despite being legally required to implement them.
Tendring District Council (TDC) has voiced its opposition to national planning changes that will remove the ability of ward councillors to request that applications be decided by the Planning Committee. The decision was made at a meeting on Tuesday (13 October), where councillors agreed amendments to the council’s constitution to comply with the Government’s new National Scheme of Delegation of Planning Functions, which takes effect on 31 October.
Under the new national rules, a greater number of planning decisions will be delegated to council officers, and ward councillors will no longer be able to demand that an application is presented to the Planning Committee. Councillor Mark Stephenson, Leader of TDC, stated that councillors from across the chamber spoke forcefully against the changes, reflecting the strong feelings among councillors and residents who value their democratic input in the planning process.
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"I want to be clear from the outset that I am deeply opposed to these changes. Planning decisions can have a profound effect on our towns, villages and residents. Local councillors understand their communities and should be able to ensure that significant and contentious applications receive proper public scrutiny."
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"This new national scheme removes the ability of ward councillors to require an application to come before the Planning Committee. It places far more decisions in the hands of officers and reduces the democratic voice of elected members. I do not support that. I believe it weakens local accountability and takes decision-making further away from the communities affected."
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"However, this change has been imposed through national legislation. If we do not comply, the council risks acting unlawfully and planning decisions could be challenged."
Councillor Stephenson clarified that the opposition was directed at the national policy changes, not at the council’s planning officers, whom he described as “hardworking, fair-minded and professional”. As part of an amended motion, the council agreed that the Leader would write to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to formally express Tendring’s opposition.
The council’s Community Leadership Scrutiny Committee will also conduct a review of the new arrangements after three months. This review will examine how often councillors request to voice opinions on applications in their wards and the number of cases referred to the Planning Committee. Additionally, all district councillors will receive training on raising ward issues and the criteria for referring applications to the Planning Committee.
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"It’s wrong and it does take away our democratic right in certain circumstances."
Councillor Andy Baker, TDC’s Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning, noted that during the national consultation in April, TDC had responded that the draft regulations were “undemocratic and not justified”.
