Planning chiefs admit Wem housing decision errors

In leaked documents shown to the Shropshire Star, planning bosses at the council have admitted not following the correct measures when using delegated powers to approve the plans for Roden Grove in Wem.

In emails sent to campaigners opposed to the plans Ian Kilby, development manager at Shropshire Council, admits local council members representing Wem should have been invited to attend one of the private meetings when the plans were discussed, but were not.

Meanwhile, in the council's codes and protocols document, it says decisions taken under delegated powers should also be accurately recorded and documented. But Mr Kilby has admitted there isn't a "documented record" of what information was discussed when the plans were discussed.

The council has always defended its decision to approve the plans, saying the scheme was considered twice by principal planning officers, who did consult with the chairman and vice-chairman of the planning committee, and all agreed it did not need to go to a full debate.

Mr Kilby said: "The issue was considered on two separate occasions. I do not have the date for the first agenda setting meeting – the local member should have been informed but wasn't – this was our error.

"However, the decision was reconsidered on April 21 and the note to Councillors Mellings and Dee posted on the council's website explaining this is of the same date.

"The information used in these discussions is held on the online register where the views of the community, consultees and all other relevant information is available. There isn't a documented record of precisely what information the councillors and officers discussed. These are, by their nature, discussions which reflect the key considerations in each case."

Campaigner Mike Sargeant, whose house backs on to Roden Grove and who has been in correspondence with Mr Kilby, is calling on the council to reverse its decision.

He is angry there is no detailed record of when and why the decision was made, and why a local council member, who acts as an independent witness, was not asked to attend the meeting.

"We want the plans to be thrown out. With so much advice against the plans, we want to know what information they had to be able to make their decision," he said.

"The government is putting so much pressure on council's to grant new houses, it seems council's are granting applications after folding to the pressure."

Mal Price, cabinet member for planning, said: "We consider the scheme of delegation was applied in accordance with the regulations.

"In the case of Roden Grove there is a public statement of this on the Shropshire Council website which explains how the delegated decision was taken."