Reforms to planning permission rules branded as ‘Stalinist’ have been met with strong opposition from councillors in North Somerset. Despite the local council already adhering to many of the new government standards, it reluctantly amended its constitution to comply with the controversial changes.
The council’s move sparked criticism across party lines—including from Labour members—prompting a decision to write to government ministers and local MPs expressing “serious concerns” over the reforms.
Robert Payne, Liberal Democrat councillor for Weston-super-Mare Central, emphasized the loss of democratic accountability: “We have to vote for this so that the council complies with the law, but I see no justification in these changes designed to reduce our ability to make decisions locally. It’s another instance of the government dictating how councils operate without respecting local arrangements.”
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Labour’s former planning committee chair, Hugh Malyan (Weston-super-Mare South Worle), described the reforms as “Stalinist centralising tendencies” reminiscent of policies from the previous administration. “It’s happening again under this government, driven by the Whitehall bureaucracy,” he said.
The new rules cap planning committees to a maximum of 13 councillors and restrict the types of planning applications they can consider, forcing many decisions away from open committee discussions. Councillors were warned that ignoring these regulations could lead to their decisions being overturned in judicial reviews.
Annemieke Waite, cabinet member responsible for planning and a Green Party representative for Winford, highlighted that North Somerset’s committee already met the government’s criteria. “Our planning committee was functioning really well and already had the required number of members. I find the changes extraordinary,” she said.
The council’s monthly planning meetings focus primarily on major applications and are sometimes canceled when no significant business arises. Most planning decisions, especially smaller applications, are made under delegated authority by planning officers to streamline the process, with only select cases brought before the committee for public consideration. Payne expressed concern this new approach risks sidelining elected members and local residents, potentially damaging vital relationships.
The resolution to lobby the government was introduced by Green councillor Bridget Petty from Backwell, who stressed the council’s effective operation under the previous system: “Although we must vote to comply with the legislation, we have serious concerns given our planning committee was already well-functioning.”
Conservative councillor Peter Burden (Portishead South) condemned the reforms as contradictory to the government’s stated commitment to devolution. “They talk about handing power to local people but then strip that power away, giving us decision-making only if we follow their strict instructions,” he remarked.
The Labour government aims to build 1.5 million homes in its first five years, recently increasing North Somerset’s 15-year housing target from 15,200 dwellings to 23,500. However, Malyan blamed the slow pace of housebuilding not on the council but rather on land banking by developers lacking the resources to commence construction on granted permissions.