Tameside’s Labour planning chair David Mills has defended changes to the way applications are decided after the council rejected their implementation by 26 votes to 22.
The National Scheme of Delegation is due to take effect on 31 October. It changes which applications can be determined by officers and would reduce the membership of Tameside’s Speakers Panel for planning.
Reform, Conservative and independent councillors joined forces at the seven-hour full council meeting on 6 October to defeat the recommendation supported by Labour members.
Mills acknowledged that he opposed parts of the new arrangements but rejected claims that residents and ward councillors would lose the right to comment on applications. He said the intended purpose was to streamline the planning process.
Council leaders said officers already determine 96 per cent of applications. The authority’s monitoring officer warned that failing to implement the mandatory rules could prevent lawful decisions, expose the council to legal challenges and delay housing schemes.
The monitoring officer is now considering the council’s options, which could include an extraordinary meeting to reconsider the changes before they take effect.
