The leader of Bath and North East Somerset Council has described the government’s new planning reforms as an “attack by central government on local democracy.” These reforms, introduced by the Labour administration, significantly reduce the role of local councillors in deciding planning applications, one of their most critical responsibilities.
On 17 September, Bath and North East Somerset Council symbolically voted against adopting the new rules, although they will be implemented regardless. Kevin Guy, the Liberal Democrat council leader, criticised the changes, stating: “The government say they believe in devolving powers but in front of us are a series of changes which will remove the rights of councillors to call in applications and radically curtail the planning decisions made transparently and openly in our meetings.”
Previously, many planning applications were discussed and voted on in public planning committee meetings. Under the new reforms, a larger number of these decisions will be made by planning officers-council staff members who assess applications based on planning policy and currently handle smaller cases independently.
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Notably, applications for nine or fewer homes will now only be brought before councillors in exceptional circumstances. Furthermore, new rules introduced in April restrict councils from rejecting planning applications for over 150 homes without government approval.
Mr Guy emphasised the impact of these changes on local representation: “I am sure colleagues will agree that this is an attack by central government on local democracy. There won’t be a councillor in this chamber who has not been approached by residents asking for their support and stance on planning applications. Our residents believe that people who are local know best, and you are those local representatives.”
The council was scheduled to officially vote to adopt the reforms, but Mr Guy chose not to propose the necessary amendment to the council constitution, citing it as a matter of principle. Although the reforms are mandated by the government and will be incorporated into the constitution by the council’s monitoring officer regardless, Mr Guy affirmed: “We cannot vote for change in planning rules that we fundamentally do not agree with.”
While councillors on planning committees must make decisions in accordance with established planning policies, their judgments do not always align with those of planning officers. For example, in 2024, planning officers recommended approval for a contentious proposal for 290 homes on Bath’s southern edge, but councillors rejected the plans. This decision was later upheld on appeal by the government’s planning inspectorate.
This controversy over planning reforms comes on the heels of another dispute between the council and government regarding housing targets. Earlier in 2024, the Labour government doubled Bath and North East Somerset’s housing target for the next 18 years-from approximately 14,090 to over 27,000 homes. Mr Guy has called this increase “unforgivable.”