Is planning about people or politicians?

Swansea Council will debate a notice of motion tomorrow which complains that the authority’s Local Development Plan procedures have, according to Peter Black and Rob Speht, “not involved sufficient consultation with local members so as to help them explain to the public how that process works.”

They want politicians to be involved in “filtering” candidate sites put forward for potential development – presumably in their own wards – before draft plans and documentation are put up for formal debate.

It’s not an entirely surprising pre-emptive suggestion when you consider how the Lib Dem-led administration readily conjured up planning committees in the past to accommodate political sinecures. But it will be interesting to see if the relevant cabinet member (who is an Independent) backs this dubious move or whether he advises they should instead read the Council’s info website: Easy guide to the Local Development Plan.

The again, perhaps they already have and taken objection to the bit which states “councillors don't have a formal role at this [current] stage. They will get to vote on the plan as it is prepared including the final Deposit Plan which will then go to the Welsh Government for approval. After that it will come back to the Council for adoption.”

All a bit galling when you're supposed to be the person representing the community's view in the council chamber. You can bet Carl Sergeant approves of this approach, though.