Norman Baker MP Member of Parliament for Lewes constituency
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Norman Baker,
23 East Street,
Lewes,
East Sussex,
BN7 2LJ.
Tel: (01273) 480281.
Fax: (01273) 480287.
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MP demands greater say for local councillors in planning matters
Norman Baker, MP for Lewes, has today written to Charles Lant, Chief Executive of Wealden District Council to express his concerns at the way, Wealden District Council determines planning applications, saying too often the voice of local people is ignored. His move follows a planning application for a property in Polegate where Polegate Town Council objected but their objection was over-ruled.
The present scheme at Wealden District Council does not specify exactly what course of action should be taken if a particular application receives a certain number of objections. But even if the local elected Town or Parish council registers an objection that does not generate an automatic referral to a committee and can be singly ignored by an individual planning officer. It appears that Lewes District Council has also given itself the right for Officers to determine applications in the face of opposition from a Town or Parish Council.
Norman also feels that there is a further contradiction in Wealden’s scheme in that when a matter is brought before committee, the relevant local member is not allowed a voice at that committee, where as, on the other hand he or she is effectively given decision-making powers for applications which are delegated.
Commenting on this Norman said:
"I am particularly concerned about the undemocratic nature of the scheme Wealden have adopted. Town and Parish Councils are, after all, elected and are closest to the local people. This scheme devalues their work if even after proper consideration their views cannot even generate a referral to committee.
"I accept that the Government is constantly pushing for planning decisions to be made more and more by officers, reflecting the fact that they want to give developers an easier time. But even this fails to excuse that approach taken by Wealden. They should think again.”