The Labour Administration at Northumberland County Council have come under renewed criticism from Anne-Marie Trevelyan, the Conservative parliamentary candidate for Berwick-upon-Tweed over their controversial, proposed changes to the County's planning system after a cross-party attempt to have the decision "called in" was rejected.
The controversial proposals, which include Parish and Town councils and local residents losing their power to be able to "trigger" planning decisions being put to a geographically based area committee, the creation of two countywide committees and planning meetings being changed from 6pm to 2pm, were agreed by Northumberland County Council's policy board last week. An opposition attempt to "call in" the decision, the process by which a decision is deferred for the proper consideration of the 100+ consultation responses and further consultation and scrutiny, was rejected.
Anne-Marie Trevelyan said; "Virtually every Parish and Town Council in the area has taken the time, despite the very tight time scales given to them for this so-called consultation, to respond detailing their very strong opposition to these plans which will essentially extinguish their role in the planning decision-making process. It seems to be that the Labour administration are failing to takes these views on board, submit their plans for proper scrutiny or genuine consultation and I am disappointed that they have repeatedly rejected our calls to set up a cross-party group on this. This refusal to call in this issue, of significant public interest, is a further snub and affront to democracy".
Anne-Marie Trevelyan and the Lead Executive Officer of the Council, Steven Mason have been involved in a public spat recently over the issue. Steven Mason had written to Anne-Marie Trevelayan saying that he took exception to her criticism of the plans and suggestion that they would involve "important planning decisions being nodded through by officers under delegated authority". However, Anne-Marie Trevelyan said she will continue to fight against the plans and to ensure local voices are not snubbed out of the democratic process; "Northumberland County Council are in danger of becoming the most officer-led planning authority in the country where its residents, who they are meant to serve, have the least say".
Peter Jackson, the leader of the Conservative Group also voiced his criticism over the refusal to call in the plans; "it makes a mockery of the Scrutiny process and is a shame to see yet another offer of consensual working spurned by the Labour administration for the completely spurious reason of it being a 'quasi-judicial' decision".
The proposals will now be put to the Full Council meeting on 1st April.