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Letter: Confused Tories Misunderstand Planning Process
Published on: 7 Jul, 2022
Updated on: 7 Jul, 2022
From: John Redpath
R4GV borough councillor for Holy Trinity
In response to: ‘Something Must Be Done’ Is the Worst Approach to Decision Making
Richard Mills continues to be confused like so many Tories at the moment. This site is not owned by R4GV or the Lib Dems.
The developers submit plans and the planning department of GBC will decide on those plans as per planning policy, all of which were brought in by previous Tory administrations.
Planning decisions are not political decisions but ones of planning policy. If only Mr Mills could understand this then this comment will have been worthwhile.
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Responses to Letter: Confused Tories Misunderstand Planning Process
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"Found any?" - "Nope, it all looks green to me!" (See Opinion: The Future is Congested, the Future is Grey)
Paul Spooner
July 8, 2022 at 9:03 am
It appears that Cllr Redpath is confused. The Development Management Policies were adopted in January 2003 before the Conservatives took control of the borough council in May 2003. Those policies are finally being updated by the current Local Plan process (Part 2) that have now been submitted to the Local Plan Inspector.
Paul Spooner is the leader of the Conservative group at Guildford Borough Council
Richard Mills
July 15, 2022 at 12:19 pm
I am afraid that Cllr Redpath [R4GV, Holy Trinity] is really in no position to accuse Conservative representatives of confusion and misunderstanding.
I am reluctant to question his familiarity with his basic responsibilities as a local councillor but his comment betrays such a fundamental misunderstanding of councillors’ planning responsibilities that it cannot be allowed to pass unchallenged.
To say that ‘developers submit plans and the planning department of GBC will decide on those plans as per planning policy’ is a basic misrepresentation.
The duty to determine planning applications lies squarely with elected representatives. Council officials normally have a delegated power to determine minor applications, and in all major developments such as St Mary’s Wharf and North Street, councillors must take due account of the advice of officials notably on planning law and policy. But the ultimate duty to decide the applications lies with the community’s elected representatives.
Councillor Redpath cannot shuffle off his share of responsibility for the current state of planning in Guildford so casually.
Richard Mills is chair of the Town Centre Conservatives.