Vicki Shiel,
Planning,
4 July 2008
The government has signalled that it will not pursue the introduction of local member review boards (LMRBs) in the Planning Bill.
Under the proposal, minor applications would be determined by planning officers. But their decisions could be reviewed by a panel of councillors from the local planning authority, with no right of appeal to an inspector.
During the bill debate last week, planning minister Caroline Flint told parliament: "We need to consider whether, given the number of planning reforms we are asking authorities to implement, it is also right to ask them to focus on LMRBs."
RTPI secretary-general Robert Upton welcomed Flint's remarks. He said the boards would present practical difficulties for local authorities that would need to find extra resources to administer the appeals process.
He added that the proposed system has potential to compromise the independence and impartiality of the appeals process and undermine public confidence in the planning system.
An RTPI spokesman added: "We hope that the mechanism will be formally removed at some stage during the bill's progress through the Lords."
The RTPI expressed concern over the proposal earlier this year, but the Local Government Association voiced support for the measure (Planning, 11 January, p2).
