Solihull Conservatives have submitted a motion to Full Council calling on the Labour Government to keep major planning decisions in local hands. The motion has been seconded by the Liberal Democrats.
The Government is consulting on giving regional mayors additional planning powers, including the ability to call in and determine certain planning applications currently decided by local councils.
Solihull Conservatives argue that these proposals would reduce local democratic control and weaken the voice local people have over development in their communities. The motion says strategic cooperation across the West Midlands has an important role, but should support local decision-making rather than replace it.
The proposals come as Solihull is already facing greater development pressure, with its housing requirement under the Government's revised methodology increasing from 816 to approximately 1,331 homes a year, an increase of around 63%.
Cllr Heather Delaney said:
“The Labour Government is proposing to take important planning powers away from locally elected councils and hand them to regional mayors. We believe that would reduce local democratic accountability and weaken the voice of Solihull residents. We need new homes, including genuinely affordable homes, but where development happens matters. Local people understand their communities and deserve a meaningful say over decisions affecting their roads, schools, GP services, Green Belt and local environment. Devolution should bring decisions closer to local people, not take them further away. We are pleased the Liberal Democrats are seconding our motion and supporting the principle that planning decisions should remain locally accountable.”
The motion calls on the Government to keep planning decisions with democratically elected local planning authorities, and for Solihull's MPs to make representations to Ministers in support of locally accountable planning.
ENDS.
