Move to restrain planning officers at Shropshire Council

A review was today announced following a rising number of complaints over rulings made in secret.

They include anger that a supermarket was given permission, leading to the demolition of a 200-year-old Thomas Telford toll house.

And there was an outcry at plans to build 25 homes in north Shropshire without any debate by councillors.

Meanwhile, in the south of the county, councillors said they felt increasingly under pressure to rubber-stamp everything – and had even been told by officers that some proposals "couldn't" be looked at by the elected planning committee.

South planning committee member Andy Boddington said: "We need to remember councillors delegate their powers to officers, officers don't delegate powers to councillors. That is what the row is about, and it is a big row."

Shropshire Council today said it would hold a consultation to create "a process that is efficient, consistent and transparent".

Town and parish councils are being asked whether powers delegated to officers are being used correctly.

Around 94 per cent of planning applications never get to be debated by councillors.

They are instead determined by unelected planning officers.

Councillor Steve Davenport, chairman of the Task and Finish Group, which will lead the consultation, has asked the local councillors for their views on the current system used by Shropshire Council.

A survey has been sent out to Shropshire councillors and all the town and parish councils asking for views

on whether the current system of delegation, which it says "seeks to ensure that only the most significant, complex or contentious planning applications are considered by planning committee", is working.

Councillor Davenport said: "A number of parish and town councils are submitting comments in respect of changes they believe Shropshire Council is making to the number and delivery of planning committees. Some of the assumptions they have made are incorrect and I thought it would be helpful to clarify the position.

"Our members will be working with planning officers and gathering evidence from stakeholders to determine best practice for a process that is efficient, consistent and transparent.

"As a first step all Shropshire Council councillors have been sent a survey to complete on their views and experiences."

Oswestry deputy mayor Councillor Paul Milner, who has expressed his concern, said: "I welcome and support these ideas and the group. It's good news that they're recognising it needs to be looked into.

"I think that's what we've been saying, and it's covering everything that matters to town and parish councils. I look forward to the outcome."