Liberal Democrats call for better council practice in planning

Councillor John McCann

The Oldham Liberal Democrat Group ‎has proposed a motion to the next meeting of Oldham Council (Wednesday 13 December) that planning officers routinely notify Ward Councillors when developers have, or have not, complied with planning conditions and that they also provide Councillors with opportunities to meet with local constituents to discuss planning matters.

Deputy Group Leader Councillor John McCann is proposing the motion. He explained: "Local Councillors are often not informed by planning officers about public consultation events or whether, or when, developers comply with the conditions that are attached to planning consents. This is simply wrong - as local leaders we have the right to know and the right to be involved."

Councillor McCann is backed by the Liberal Democrat Group Leader and Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE.

Councillor Sykes added: "It is very frustrating that Ward Members are kept 'out of the loop'. Planning matters are often very contentious and our constituents have strong feelings on these issues. As best practice, planning officers should routinely inform and involve members when they will be consulting the public on planning matters and they should tell us when developers have met the conditions that are attached to planning approvals."

Councillor McCann cited one example of a planning application where the outcome has been unsatisfactory, both for Ward Members and local residents: ‎"A classic case is that of Well I Hole Farm and Camping Site where even the conditions that a Planning Inspector imposed on an applicant have not been implemented or enforced some three years later.

"If Ward Members are notified of circumstances such as these, we can add our weight to that of planning officers and residents to pressurise the developer into compliance."

Councillor Sykes concluded: "Quite simply we want Oldham Council to become an exemplar local authority on planning consultation and enforcement, and we are confident that if our motion receives cross-party support at the full Council on Wednesday ‎we will move a long way in this right direction."