Councillors play a vital role in reflecting local needs
As first was going to press, the Planning and Infrastructure Bill was in its committee stage in the House of Commons, following its second reading in March.
The bill includes wide-ranging proposals to reform the planning system in England, with the aim of increasing the supply of housing and delivering infrastructure more efficiently.
The LGA briefed MPs ahead of the second reading debate, highlighting our support for the ambition to deliver more homes and infrastructure, and welcoming certain measures – including several long-standing LGA asks, such as making it easier for councils to purchase vacant land for housebuilding, localising planning fees, and increasing planning capacity.
These measures have the potential to support councils in delivering the homes and infrastructure communities need.
However, the LGA raised some concerns, in particular, calling for further clarity on how national policies and the proposed ‘statutory spatial development strategies’ will interact with councils’ local plans.
The bill also introduces a new national scheme of delegation, which will set rules for whether planning applications are decided by officers or committees.
While the details of the scheme are still subject to consultation, we are clear that councils must remain at the heart of the planning process, and that communities should continue to have a meaningful voice on decisions that affect them.
Councillors play a vital role in representing local views and making planning decisions that reflect the needs of their areas.
These points were raised throughout the debate, with members from across the House citing the LGA’s positions.
Kevin Hollinrake, Shadow Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Secretary, expressed concerns from the opposition, particularly regarding the removal of councillors’ ability to vote on planning applications, and the effect on local democratic accountability.
Mr Hollinrake stated that “the LGA itself strongly opposes these changes”, criticising specifically the reduction in councillors’ powers.
Gideon Amos MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson on Housing and Planning, emphasised the crucial role of local councillors in shaping communities, quoting the LGA’s briefing that “the role councillors play in the planning system is the backbone of that system. That is the way it should remain”.
Mr Amos warned that removing planning decisions from councillors effectively removes them from local communities. He also stressed the importance of council housing and addressing blockages within the housing sector.
Nesil Caliskan MP (Lab), an LGA Vice-President, supported the bill, emphasising the urgent housing crisis evident in her constituency.
Ms Caliskan highlighted serious capacity and resourcing issues in local authority planning teams, underscoring the pressures local authorities will be under to deliver the Government’s housing targets.
The bill passed its second reading by 330 votes to 74 and is now in committee.
The LGA will continue to brief parliamentarians at every stage of the bill’s passage and will respond to the forthcoming consultation on planning committees and the national scheme of delegation.
We will work closely with government to ensure that reforms to the planning system are effective, deliverable, and locally led.
- See the LGA’s full briefing on the second reading of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill