A SCRUTINY committee’s proposal which would allow council officers to green light their own planning applications was shot down by fellow councillors, for fear of “negative public perception”.

The divisive recommendation, made by Test Valley Borough Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSCOM), was thrown out by the authority’s cabinet.

The scrutiny body recommended that the cabinet approve a change to the authority’s ‘Scheme of Delegation’, meaning applications with interests from TVBC councillors and officers would only be put to debate if an objection was raised.

This would include applications submitted from the council’s chief executive and other officers, including those working in the planning department.

And while the cabinet accepted these changes would save time, they firmly rejected the concept, citing issues over “transparency”.

A cabinet reported stated: “The proposal would see some benefit in saving committees time and enable those applications to be dealt with more expeditiously.

“Against that, however, the change would give rise to a not insignificant public perception transparency issue in allowing such applications to be determined outside the public spotlight of committee decision-making.

"As a result, a change in respect of the current regime in respect of council members is not supported.”

The report went on say that under the council’s constitution, not all planning applications by officers have to go to committee.

However, all applications submitted by top council bosses, including the chief executive and any officer involved in planning, must be put before councillors.

One person to criticise OSCOM’s recommendation is Andover-based planning expert Paul Flippance.

The planning consultant, who has run his own business for over 25 years, said: “I think it’s very dangerous.

“I absolutely 100 per cent agree with the cabinet that it would have led to a lack of transparency.”

“To make something which is already done behind a door that is well closed less transparent is a real backwards step.

“It would be like having a judge, jury and executioner all with one pen.”

OSCOM chairman, Councillor Chris Lynn, has defended the committee’s decision to put forward the proposal.

He said the recommendation was made with the aim of “streamlining” the planning process.

Cllr Lynn said: “It is a difficult one because if it’s just an odd-bod putting an extension on their house then it is normally dealt with under delegated powers.

“If it is anything to do with employees it has to go through the whole planning system.

"This means long reports and being put before the committee which takes time.”

Councillor Lynn admitted that some transparency would be lost, but said that it would be a “more efficient” system.

He added the plans would still have to go through the council’s planning team and their usual procedures.

Councillor Lynn said his committee would discuss the cabinet’s decision to knock-back their proposal at their next meetin. 

Meanwhile the cabinet has submitted their own proposal to make a change to the authority’s current position.

Their recommendation is to bring the council’s constitution in line with the wording of the Local Code for Officers and Councillors Dealing with Planning Matters.

Their current guidance states: “Proposals submitted by councillors and officers must be reported to the relevant planning committee and not dealt with by officers under delegated powers.”

The proposal will now be put forward to full council at a later date.

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