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Bristol Green Councillors have objected to the most significant changes to national planning rules in decades, slamming them as undemocratic and completely at odds with the Labour Government’s devolution agenda.
The changes to the national scheme of delegation of planning functions were announced by the Government earlier this year and came into effect from the 31st of October. A paper will be taken to the Bristol Full Council meeting on the 10th of November to amend the council’s constitution to reflect the necessary changes to national policy.
Most notably, the changes take away the power for Councillors to call-in applications on behalf of their residents. The council must also notify the housing minister before refusing any scheme of 150 homes or more, giving the minister the opportunity to decide whether to take it over.
Cllr Jenny Bartle, Vice-Chair of the Economy and Skills Policy Committee said: “These are the most significant changes to national planning policy in decades, and they will make decisions less transparent and takes away power from local people.
“At a time when the Government is promising devolution, by removing the ability of Councillors to call-in applications, they are doing the opposite.
“This Labour Government is signalling that it does not trust local Councillors to make the best decisions for Bristol and our residents.”
The changes also mean that even more planning applications will be decided by council officers.
The Chief Planning Officer and the Chair of a planning committee will consider whether major applications will go forward to a committee. Both must agree that the application raises “an economic, social or environmental issue of significance to the local area” or a significant planning matter, having regard to the development plan and other material considerations, for it to come to committee. If there is no agreement, the decision will be made by officers.
Cllr Bartle continued; “It is fundamental that all applications that could have a significant impact on an area are decided by a planning committee of democratically elected councillors, for the sake of transparency and the best interests of our residents and the whole of Bristol.
“Whilst the Government gives us no choice to change our constitution in line with these powers, we will push to make sure this is the case and that there is a valid and public reason behind any decisions made under the new scheme of delegation that goes against this.”
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