Walsall leaders react to Labour’s new ‘totally wrong’ planning rules

Political leaders in Walsall have slammed new planning rules set to be introduced by the Labour Government later this month.

The Reform leader of Walsall Council said the changes are ‘anti-democratic’, the Tory leader described them as ‘totally wrong’ and the leader of Walsall Community Independents said the government ‘should be ashamed of itself’.

From October 31, almost all planning applications will be decided by officers employed by local councils, limiting the number of applications brought before planning committees.

Following the changes, ward councillors will no longer have the power to call-in an application to be decided at a public meeting.

In fact under the new rules, the only applications to be decided at committee, subject to the agreement of both the planning officer and committee chair, will be ones that raise ‘significant economic, social or environmental’ issues.

The authority’s leader, Councillor Elaine Williams, said: “The Labour Government is taking away our powers at a local level from councillors as many more decisions will be made by officers.

“Previously, we could set our own constitution for planning decisions. However, the new law imposes a single national framework, reducing our local flexibility and preventing us from tailoring processes to community needs or local sensitivities.

“Despite not wanting to accept the new rules, we are legally required to accept the changes as they are compulsory.

“It is anti-democratic and limits our ability to represent our residents. This Labour Government is taking away the will of local people to be able to deal with local issues.”

Conservative leader Councillor Adrian Andrew said: “The changes will stop the right of local people to work with their councillors to stop, or even encourage, planning applications in their communities, something that is totally wrong.

“The government is stripping away our democracy bit by bit. This is a raid on residents’ freedoms and the ability for councillors, of all parties, to properly represent their constituents.

“I am supporting a national Conservative campaign through the Local Government Association who are sending a letter to the Prime Minister demanding this change be scrapped and revoke the changes to the national planning delegations.”

Councillor Aftab Nawaz, leader of Walsall Community Independents, added: “These reforms take away decision making from the democratically elected councillors and instead they will be made by faceless bureaucrats.

“For example the new rules coming in delegate all Houses of Multiple Occupation to be decided by officers, and, as you know, HMOs are very controversial. They have a huge impact on local streets and create havoc. If these reforms go ahead, residents should be blaming their Labour MPs when the next HMO gets approved in their area.

“The Labour Government has messed this one up quite significantly. It’s not too late to reverse the decision. Power should always be with the people and their representatives, not faceless bureaucrats.

“The Labour Government should be ashamed of itself by taking away power from local people. They should be devolving power not taking it away. I hope they rethink it.”

By Rachel Alexander | Local Democracy Reporting Service