A MOVE to improve planning application decision-making processes has been strongly criticised amid accusations that Darlington Borough Council is adopting a ‘totalitarian’ regime.

At a full meeting of the council, several ward councillors claimed that changes to the way planning matters are decided by authority will strip parish councils of their power.

Previously, if a parish council objected to a planning application, the matter would be automatically heard by the planning applications committee.

Under amendments, which were approved on Thursday, representations from parish councils will now be treated the same as residents’ submissions and will no longer be automatically sent to the committee.

Instead, it will be up to the chair or vice chair to decide whether the planning application should be heard by the committee.

A report by Councillor Chris McEwan, cabinet member for economy and regeneration, stated that although parish council representations can bring valuable local knowledge and experience to the decision-making process, they are often on non-technical matters which can be dealt with through policy and without taking up committee time.

Hurworth ward councillor Joe Kelley strongly opposed the amendment and demanded to know why parish councillors were not consulted over it.

He said: “Why have democracy? Why have parish councils? Why have elected individuals to represent their residents’ views if you are not going to listen to them?

“This isn’t localism; this is totalitarianism.”

Coun Gerald Lee, of Heighington and Coniscliffe ward, said that the amendment was ‘unworkable’.

He claimed that it would end up creating more work for council officers because all the members of a parish council would make representations rather than all members’ views being represented in one submission.

He added: “The perception in the rural wards is that Darlington Borough Council takes but doesn’t give anything back.

“Buses are lost, roads are not as good; people are isolated.

“Parish councillors, who are elected officials, are going to have their ability to talk about their communities watered down and that is not a good thing.”

Coun Chris McEwan said he did not believe the amendment impacted on democracy at all.

He added: “I want to emphasise to members that parish councils will still be consulted, and importantly, their views will be considered fairly and following the processes by the planning committee as it now.

“So to my mind this is a minor technical change.”