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2004-02-15 - 1:57 p.m. Planning almost always causes problems for councillors on the planning committee. The public think that councillors can make planning decisions as they seem fit. The public also do not have a great understanding of science and technology. As such they are suspicious of new devopments and it's easy for so called experts to stir things up. This is usually accompanied by conspiracy theory that the whole thing has been decided beforehand. The truth is the planning decisions have to be in line with government and local policies and have to take into account evidence from consultations. Contentious issues include masts for mobile telephones where residents fear harmful affects but we're told there's no evidence that they can harm. Most planning applications are determined by officers. Committee members are no experts and are often put in the difficult position of approving an application they know the public don't want but for which there are no valid reasons to refuse. If the committee was to refuse an application wrongly the developer can appeal to an inspector who can overturn the decision and award costs, which can run into thousands of pounds. Occasionaly a member gets involved in an issue before dertermination. Here the member declares the interest at the meeting and does not take part when the decision is made. Indeed, the member has not to be in the room. Last week I supported a local group that opposes a planning application which involves a road being built across a playing field. I was pictured with them in the local newspaper and will not take part in the determination if it comes to committee.
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