Labour councillors have welcomed winning the battle to stop ill-thought out, planning committee changes, being introduced by the ruling Conservative group at Pendle Council full meeting.

Leader of the Labour Group Cllr Asjad Mahmood said:

“At the annual council meeting the Tory leadership, without prior warning, nor any public consultation, pushed through changes to the council constitution. These changes would have removed the ability of locally elected councillors to decide on local planning applications, and see a central planning committee imposed.

We said that this was wrong and would lead to the removal of democratic accountability of local councillors, with planning applications for Barnoldswick determined by Colne and Nelson Councillors, and vice-versa.  

Due to two of their members not attending full council, it meant the Tories were unable to steam-roll their rules for the new planning committee.  A sensible proposition to set up a working group of all political parties has been approved which will look at this matter and, I hope, take public feedback into account.”

Chairman of Nelson and Brierfield Area Committee, Cllr Naeem Ashraf added, “I am proud that local people can attend an Area Committee meeting to express their views on planning applications.  The proposal by the Conservatives would have led to a small group of councillors deciding on planning applications which affect every resident across Pendle, it was wrong and I’m happy common sense has prevailed for the time being.”