Council planning merger to go ahead

Councillor Ashley Dearnley says changing the current planning structure would prevent councillors "playing politics"

The proposal to scrap the four township planning sub-committees for one enlarged planning committee covering the whole of the Borough was ratified at the full council meeting on Wednesday evening (19 October).

The current four separate planning sub-committees in Heywood, Middleton, Pennines and Rochdale will be scrapped and membership of the Planning and Licensing Committee is to be increased to 15 members.

• http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/105659/council-planning-subcommittees-to-merge

Speaking in favour of the proposal, Labour councillor for Castleton, Councillor Billy Sheerin said the current system was confusing for applicants in that what appeared to be a decision taken at a sub-committee could then be overturned at the Planning and Licensing Committee.

The Lib Dems opposed the proposal with the leader of the Lib Dems, Councillor Andy Kelly saying he believed local planning decisions should be taken by local councillors - it was pointed out to him they still would be as all four townships would be represented on the enlarged Planning and Licensing Committee and that councillors would still be able to represent their wards. 

Councillor Kelly also claimed the move would be the "final nail in the coffin of townships", a suggestion derided by Labour and Conservative councillors alike, with Conservative leader Councillor Ashley Dearnley saying the death knell for townships would be keeping the current structure that is brought into disrepute by the fact the sub-committees cannot make decisions and councillors use the sub-committees to "play politics" by approving applications, so as not to invoke the wrath of local residents, in full knowledge that the real decision would be made at the Planning and Licensing Committee.

Councillor Dearnley called the proposal "common sense" and said he had called many times previously for the sub-committees to be removed.

Leader of the Labour group, Councillor Richard Farnell said doing nothing was not an option as the government had changed the rules and planning decisions now have to be made within 13 weeks - he said the current cumbersome structure meant it was very difficult to adhere to that time frame and there were penalties for not doing so. He said the move would also save the cash-strapped council money by avoiding duplication.