The Mayor advised that he had accepted an urgent motion on the erosion of local democracy in the planning system due to the timing and sensitivity of recent Government announcements regarding planning committee reform.

The Mayor invited Councillor Julien Speed to propose the motion.

In proposing the motion, Councillor Speed referred to recently published Government proposals concerning planning committee reform, including the introduction of a national scheme of delegation, proposed restrictions on councillors’ ability to call in planning applications, and the imposition of a maximum planning committee size of 13 members. He also referred to requirements for local planning authorities to notify central Government where refusal of major developments was being considered.

Councillor Speed explained that, in his view, these proposals represented a significant shift in decision‑making away from locally elected members and towards officers or central Government. He highlighted the importance of maintaining democratic accountability in the planning system and stressed that planning committees played a critical role in maintaining public trust.

He further noted that, in Swale, a large proportion of planning decisions were already taken under delegated powers and argued that the proposed changes would further reduce the role of elected members in decision‑making. He raised concerns regarding the loss of local knowledge and the reduced opportunity for residents’ concerns to be considered in a public forum.

In seconding the motion, Councillor Tara Noe reserved her right to speak.

Members were invited to debate the motion and made points including:

• strong concern that the proposals would reduce local democratic accountability in planning decisions;
• the importance of local knowledge and local representation in determining planning applications and setting appropriate conditions;
• concern that a nationally prescribed committee size of 13 members was overly rigid and did not reflect local governance structures;
• criticism of increasing centralisation of decision‑making and reduced confidence in local decision‑making;
• acknowledgement that planning reform was needed, but that the proposals did not address key issues such as delivery and resourcing;
• recognition that planning committees played a key role in ensuring transparency and public confidence; and
• concern that proposals could lead to decisions being made by individuals with limited understanding of local circumstances.

Members also emphasised that the motion was not an objection to development or growth, but a defence of local democratic processes and accountability.

In exercising her right of reply, Councillor Noe reiterated that the motion sought to defend the role of locally elected members in planning decisions and stressed the importance of maintaining a balanced planning system that allowed for democratic input alongside professional advice.

Councillor Speed, in summing up, thanked Members for their contributions and reiterated that the motion sought to preserve local democratic control in the planning system and ensure that decisions affecting local communities remained accountable to those communities.

Resolved to:

(1)  Formally oppose Government proposals for a “national scheme of delegation” that would remove or significantly restrict planning call-in powers available to local councillors.  

(2)  Request amendments to Schedule 1 specifically, which sets out that householder, minor residential and minor commercial applications must in all circumstances be delegated to officers.

(3)  Oppose the imposition of a maximum planning committee size of 13 members.

(4)  Call for revocation of the directive requiring referral of planning decisions to central Government for applications of 150+ dwellings where refusal is recommended.

(5)  Direct the Council Leader to write to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government setting out the Council’s concerns as expressed above regarding the erosion of local democratic control within the planning system.

(6)  Share this resolution with local Members of Parliament and neighbouring authorities to encourage broader opposition to these proposals.