Wiltshire councillors' planning reform protest overturned in two days

Summarised from 4 outlets · Updated 14 Nov, 12:02 · Archive

Wiltshire Council voted against new Government planning reforms on 20 October but the decision was reversed within two days.

Wiltshire councillors voted on 20 October against rewriting the council's constitution to incorporate new Government planning reforms. The vote was 45 to 40, with seven abstentions.

The new national rules strip councillors of the power to decide many planning applications, handing more decisions to planning officers instead. They also scrap the traditional right of a local councillor to 'call in' a case for committee debate.

Counsellors had been warned during the debate that their rebellion could not prevent the reforms taking effect. Council lawyers reminded them that they had the powers to make the necessary constitutional changes regardless. The vote was therefore effectively a political protest against rules imposed nationally rather than a way of blocking them.

Just two days after the vote, the constitution was amended. The changes fundamentally alter how planning applications are dealt with in Wiltshire. Many smaller developments will now be determined by planning officers rather than committees.

Other applications must pass a new 'gateway test' before they can be considered by a planning committee. The long-standing system allowing a local councillor to 'call in' an application for committee determination has been abolished.

How it is being reported

• Wiltshire Council's protest against government overridden in just two daysA dramatic rebellion against controversial Government planning reforms by Wiltshire councillors was overturned within just two days.Gazette & Herald · 14 Nov, 05:00
• Wiltshire Council's protest against government overridden in just two daysA dramatic rebellion against controversial Government planning reforms by Wiltshire councillors was overturned within just two days.Wiltshire Times · 14 Nov, 05:00
• Wiltshire Council's protest against government overridden in just two daysA dramatic rebellion against controversial Government planning reforms by Wiltshire councillors was overturned within just two days.Swindon Advertiser · 14 Nov, 05:00
• Wiltshire councillors’ planning reforms rebellion overturned within two daysWiltshire councillors’ revolt against Government planning reforms was overturned within two days after an October 20 vote, as call-in powers were scrapped.Salisbury Journal · 12 Nov, 17:24

In this story: Wiltshire Council · Government · Wiltshire

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