ASKING councillors to drop requests to call in planning applications to be decided by the Powys council Planning committee “compromises” the process – a senior councillor has said.
Talks will take place behind the scenes to smooth over issues that were brought up by former cabinet member and council chairman, Cllr Jonathan Wilkinson.
At a meeting of Powys County Council’s Planning committee on Thursday, June 11, Cllr Wilkinson brought up the issues while speaking to object against a proposal in his ward.
This proposal was for the three one-bedroom holiday lodges for land north east of Henllan Fach Barn at Llangyniew
Cllr Wilkinson (Conservative – Meifod and Llangyniew) said: “I called this application in as it was the subject of considerable discussion at a community council meeting at Llangyniew where a number of councillors and the closest resident raised concerns about the highways network and the use from the nearby Henllan caravan park which is considerable and may expand.
“I was invited by an officer to withdraw this call in a couple of weeks ago on the basis that the officer recommendation was to approve.
“I was a little concerned about that as to me that compromises the whole call in process.
“I rarely call in applications and feel any application called in should be properly discussed.
“I would like the opportunity to discuss this further with you (committee chairman) and the head of planning at some point in the future.
“I really feel that if the call in process is to be robust that needs to follow through right through to the committee
Committee chairman Cllr Gareth D Jones (Powys Independents – Llanfair Caereinion and Llanerfyl) said: “I would be happy to do that.”
After a discussion the committee went on to approve the application.
Later in the meeting it was revealed that the delegated planning list would not be presented to councillors.
This list notes the planning applications that had been approved or refused by planning officers using delegated powers – between each committee meeting.
This provides councillors the opportunity of asking questions on some of the schemes on the list.
Cllr Jones asked for an explanation why the list had not been brought before the committee.
Development management team leader Gemma James said: “As you’re all aware we’re slowly transferring to a new IT software system, unfortunately that has meant that at the moment we’re unable to corroborate those figures because we are moving between two systems.
“I apologise that we’re unable to provide that to you today, but as soon as we can I’ll bring all the figures for the dates we have missed to you.
“We hope to have it all sorted shortly.”
