A LEADING councillor has criticised the recommendation by the district council's chief executive that some "controversial" planning applications are considered behind closed doors.
At this month's meeting of East Devon District Council, it was recommended that planning applications which do not conform to Local Plan guidelines are not considered in public by the development management committee.
It was suggested that applications with "relatively minor" departures from council policy will be decided under delegated powers by council planning officers, not councillors.
However, councillors at the meeting did not back the proposal, and a report will now be discussed by the development management committee.
In the agenda, chief executive Mark Williams said the Government's National Planning Policy Framework legislation, which came into force last year, had resulted in an increase in departure applications.
This reason, given for the recommendation, has been branded "pathetic" by Independent town and district councillor for Ottery St Mary Roger Giles, who has now written to leader of the council Paul Diviani requesting consultation with town and parish council.
A spokesman for the council has defended the move, explaining officers were responding to concerns from councillors about the workload of the committee due to the number of applications put before them.
The spokesman said ward members and parish councils will still be consulted on these applications.
"By their very nature, applications which are a departure from council policy are contentious and important," said Cllr Giles. "That these applications are decided behind closed doors to manage the size of the agenda is a pathetic reason."
