A MAJOR shake-up of planning committees which was narrowly approved yesterday by the full Fife Council will diminish democracy and accountability, it has been claimed.
Kirkcaldy West Community Council chairman David Henderson was part of a small delegation of community councils which gave a presentation at the start of yesterday’s meeting.
He told The Courier he was “disappointed but not surprised” at the result.
A lengthy and heated debate took place at Fife House in Glenrothes, during which fears were expressed that the concerns of 34 community councils had been ignored and the creation of three regional planning committees in Fife instead of the existing eight would have a detrimental impact on communities.
Fife Council Labour administration leader Alex Rowley said he believed the proposals would make Fife the best and easiest place to do business, with a drive for investment, jobs and prosperity.
He said the driving force for change was about redirecting area committees towards their communities and dealing with “real issues” like social deprivation.
Planning could be dealt with by councillors with a real interest, and he emphasised that the legal requirement and role of community councils will not change.
Proposing three planning committees based on North-east, West and Central Fife, Mr Rowley said: “In bringing forward the case for a review of the current eight planning committee structure, I would have to say it was not a big issue on the doorsteps.
“Indeed, I don’t believe whatever the outcome of the decision today that it will become a big issue on the doorsteps.
“Where it was and is a big issue is with businesses across Fife. Over the last few years I have lost count of the number of times that businesses have raised the planning system with me and have put the question to me, is having eight planning committees for Fife the best way to do business in Fife?
“I believe the proposals we put forward today will achieve what business is asking for more knowledgeable and skilled councillors in a reduced committee structure with a developing expertise and much better scope for training and development; more specialised and simplified processes to assist businesses in understanding decision-making arrangements and providing clarity.
“And making better and more efficient use of the resources we have, driving an agenda to improve how we deal with planning and to make Fife the easiest and best place to do business.”
However, moving an amendment which proposed continuation of the existing system, the SNP’s spokesman on planning and enterprise Councillor John Beare said that Mr Rowley’s motion sounded like a “development charter”.
He added that, rather than fulfilling Mr Rowley’s post-election promise of “decentralisation, transparency and accountability”, this was about centralisation of powers and denudation of area committees.
Mr Beare said: “I am moving this amendment for one reason and one reason only: I believe it is in the interests of Fife’s communities, residents and business to do so.
“I really am significantly troubled by these centralising proposals, as are the 34 community councils who oppose these measures. Not that they were consulted, but I take heart that they have not only found out about these proposals but they have actually made a stand and come together.
“If Councillor Rowley has done anything, he has united the community councils against himself Today’s proposals are little more than a cute political fudge.”
Put to a roll call vote, Mr Rowley’s motion was approved by 38 votes to 34.
malexander@thecourier.co.uk