Councils decry “Hobson’s choice” after approving changes to constitutions ahead of planning decision-making reforms

The reforms include a mandatory national scheme of delegation and are designed to see more planning applications decided by officers.

The two councils noted that only very large, complex, or highly controversial projects are allowed to be decided by a planning committee. 

“A smaller project can only be pushed up to the committee if it passes a strict ‘gateway test’ to demonstrate that the proposal has significant impacts affecting the wider community, and that request will need to be agreed by a nominated officer.”

The reforms will also see a cap on committee sizes at a maximum of 13 members and enforcement of strict planning training and certification requirements. 

At two special council meetings on 23 and 24 September, South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils approved the necessary changes.

They said the agreed changes "seek to make the minimum amendments necessary while retaining the maximum level of member involvement permitted under the new legislation".

Cllr Emily Smith, Vale of White Horse District Council Cabinet Member for Planning Development, said: “Most of the constitutional changes being made are dictated by National Government, and to not adopt them would have left the council facing legal challenges and further loss of control over local planning decisions. 

“Despite this Hobson’s choice, we have worked hard to identify opportunities for elected councillors to input to the new process – maximising the number of applications that can be flagged as appropriate to be decided in public by the planning committee.  

“Members of the public, parish councils and statutory consultees will continue to play a vital role in planning decisions by submitting comments on planning applications for planning officers to consider, and to speak at planning committees when they do happen.”

Cllr Ben Higgins, South Oxfordshire District Council Cabinet Member for Planning Development Management, said: “These mandated changes take power away from locally elected representatives at both parish and district level and are the opposite of devolution. Under the existing regime, committee passed the vast majority of applications for residential dwellings when applications were referred. 

“These changes will make at best a marginal difference in the number of homes built, at a significant cost to local accountability and potential faith in local democratic processes. Our hands are now tied as the government is enforcing these rules across the country. We will work with our dedicated planning officers to implement the requirements – and do everything we can to make the best of this challenging new situation.”