'I don't like the idea of one person having power over everything'

Councillors fear proposed planning law reforms could be 'open to political abuse'

- By EDDIE BISKNELL

WIDE-RANGING central planning reforms would be “open to political abuse”, reduce democracy and give too much power to one person, Derbyshire councillors say.

Changes proposed by the government and due for roll-out later this year would heavily reduce the number of planning applications decided by elected councillors.

In South Derbyshire, which is experiencing one of the largest housing booms outside London, the changes would reduce the number of applications decided by councillors each year from 80 to 20.

Alongside this change, which would see most applications delegated to council officers to avoid councillors effectively “slowing down” development, the ability for elected members to “call-in” an application would be scrapped.