Conservatives in Northumberland have heavily criticised Labour's announcement of a fundamental review of Northumberland CountyCouncil's planning services, branding the current planning service; “not fit for purpose” and accused the ruling Labour administration of running a Council; “not willing to face the public or communication openly”.
Labour County Councillor Allan Hepple, the policy board member for planning, housing and regeneration, admitted yesterday that the authority has been under tremendous pressure since 2009 and have constantly missed planning targets. The Labour-led administration had appointed external auditors Deloitte to review the service and draw up a series of proposals which include abolishing the current geographically based planning committees, reducing the number of planning applications that need to be determined by planning committee and taking steps to increase the number of planning appeals won by the Council.
Councillor Glen Sanderson, the Deputy Leader of Northumberland Conservatives said; "These proposals are causing serious concerns within our communities. Potentially they will remove the ability of Parish and Town Councils and local people to express their views on planning applications in their part of the county. It is crucial to get planning right and local people, who know and care for their areas, should be listened to which the Government has continuously promoted."
Anne-Marie Trevelyan, the Conservative parliamentary candidate said; “This is further proof that the Labour administration are granting developers a 'free for all', reducing public participation and are not willing to face the public or communicate openly. If Labour had not forced us into a unitary system in the first place perhaps we could have maintained a better planning service for the county’s needs. Labour and the previous, failed Liberal Democrat administration have presided over a planning system which is not fit for purpose."
She also raised concern that the Labour administration were being “undemocratic and shutting out parish and town councils and making decisions behind closed doors, far away in the depths of County Hall”. Anne-Marie Trevelyan said; “Planning decisions deeply affect people's lifes and it it vital that the local voice is not snuffed out. The Secretary of State has said that localism and decentralisation is at the heart of the Government's planning agenda but the County Council appear to be heading in the opposite direction”.
Anne-Marie Trevelyan added that if the Council proceed with the plans then the core strategy, which will be in place, will be “useless” to local parishes; “we need to push the neighbourhood plan which parishes should pull together as a new layer of protection available to them”.