Wiltshire councillors vote down Government planning reforms

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 23 Oct, 06:00 · Archive

Wiltshire councillors voted down proposed planning reforms, but the changes will be introduced anyway.

Wiltshire Council held a lengthy and impassioned debate on 20 October on proposed planning reforms, voting 45 to 40 against the changes, with seven councillors abstaining. The vote represented a cross-party protest against what councillors view as controversial Government planning rules.

The reforms form part of the Government's National Scheme of Delegation, overseen by Housing Secretary Angela Rayner. The scheme is designed partly to speed up planning decisions as the Government pursues a target of building 1.5 million homes. Under the new arrangements, many smaller developments will be determined by planning officers rather than councillors, while other applications must pass a new 'gateway test' before reaching committee.

The changes would strip councillors of the ability to determine many planning applications and abolish the existing system allowing a local councillor to call in an application for consideration by a district planning committee. Councillors expressed strong opposition to the loss of these powers.

Despite the vote, councillors were told before the meeting that powers exist allowing council lawyers to make the necessary constitutional changes regardless of the outcome. This means the reforms will be introduced despite the council's rejection of them. The protest vote therefore represents a symbolic stand against the Government's planning reforms rather than a successful block on implementation.

How it is being reported

• Dramatic rebellion sees ‘anti-democratic’ planning rules voted down in WiltshireWiltshire councillors have staged a dramatic protest against controversial Government planning reforms.Swindon Advertiser · 23 Oct, 05:00
• Dramatic rebellion sees ‘anti-democratic’ planning rules voted down in WiltshireWiltshire councillors have staged a dramatic protest against controversial Government planning reforms.Gazette & Herald · 23 Oct, 05:00
• Dramatic rebellion sees ‘anti-democratic’ planning rules voted down in WiltshireWiltshire councillors have staged a dramatic protest against controversial Government planning reforms.Wiltshire Times · 23 Oct, 05:00

In this story: Wiltshire Council · Angela Rayner · Wiltshire

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