Greater “democratic input” is needed if planning decisions are to be delegated to officers during the COVID-19 pandemic councillors ruled at urgency committee this week.

A number of councillors met for the first urgency committee since November 2018 in order to make a decision on how planning matters will be dealt with during the current crisis but there were concerns raised about the proposal made by senior officers.

Chairman of the planning committee Clr. Jacob Williams addressed the meeting on Monday, March 30, to say he had raised concerns with chief executive Ian Westley about the lack of end date on the proposal to delegate planning functions to officers.

The delegation was needed as its “imperative that the planning function doesn’t grind to a halt and the authority is still able to make timely decisions” Dr Steven Jones, director of communities said.

Clr. Williams said that there needed to be a balance allowing elected members to have some involvement with decisions, which is addressed in a proposal from Clr. Paul Miller.

Clr. Michael Williams added that the phrase ‘until further notice’ was “worrying” and “accountable, democratic input” must be part of decisions made.

Clr. Miller’s plan was that decisions could be delegated “with certain checks and balances” which include notifying the cabinet member for planning, Clr. Jon Harvey, the chairman and vice chairman of the planning committee, Cllrs Jacob Williams and Tony Wilcox.

They should be provided with the necessary documents and decision recommendations before giving their views, with any objections resulting the restarting of the process and eventually, if agreement is not made, the calling of an urgency committee to discuss the matter.

The position will be reviewed in two months and will cease when Welsh Government regulation changes under the Coronavirus Act 2020 allow for remote meetings to be held.