ANGELA Rayner has described the head of Tameside Council’s Reform UK group’s leading of the rejection of planning changes as a ‘nonsensical political stunt.’
Cllr Allan Hopwood wrote to Ashton-under-Lyne’s MP, the Secretary of State for Housing, after the authority again voted down the adoption of the National Scheme of Delegation (NSoD).
- Ashton-under-Lyne MP Angela Rayner has hit back at Cllr Allan Hopwood after Tameside Councilors rejected planning reforms for the second time.
That officially means it is breaking the law and as The Correspondent detailed, it has ground the planning system to a halt.
During the debate, Cllr Hopwood said: “Out glorious leader Andy Burnham said that he was going to be a big advocate for devolution. This absolutely flies in the face of that.
“It’s up to us to say, ‘Andy Burnham, we’re not having it. Angela Rayner, we’re not having it.’ We do not want this. We want to represent our residents.
“Who are they going to come to when they’ve got an HMO next door to them that they don’t want? They’re going to come to us.
“We’re going to carry the can for that. Not Andy Burnham, not Angela Rayner, not the monitoring officer.”
But Ms Rayner has not held back in her criticism of Cllr Hopwood’s role in the 29-26 vote, which leaves Tameside in limbo.
She also echoes one of his criticisms of the NSoD, claiming the rejection is ‘choosing to take powers away from local councillors.’
Insisting she is writing as the MP for Ashton, she replied: “The self-defeating actions of the Reform Tameside group and others have brought the council in contradiction with national regulations.
“Alongside the risks to investment, jobs and homes for local people, your vote means that Tameside’s planning committee will lose its ability to legally exercise its planning powers even over the most important choices put to council.
“Powers will begin to sit with unelected officers – far from voting for local democracy, you are choosing to take powers away from local councillors.
“Your letter failed to mention this drastic risk to decision-making powers for elected members.
“It is not clear whether you were deliberately seeking to mislead the public by pretending otherwise, or if this simply reflects your ignorance of the planning system, but whatever your motives, given the fair and proportionate alternative available, this decision is not one that I can support.
“Tameside deserves councillors who will stand up for their interests. I am proud of the work that national government and the council leadership have done together in Tameside, including securing £1.5 million for the area through the Pride in Place Impact Fund and a further £2.27 million from the government’s new Derelict Buildings Fund.
“The leadership of Tameside Council is delivering a £100 million capital regeneration programme, with investment to Ashton town centre, repairs and improvements to Ashton Market Hall, repair works to Stalybridge’s Civic Hall, infrastructure including a new bridge across the River Tame and an accelerator programme investment to reduce the number of vacant town centre units.
“That is what real, meaningful action to deliver for local people looks like. In contrast, it is clear that residents are an afterthought to your latest nonsensical political stunt.
“I will continue to work closely with the council’s leadership to make a success of devolution, secure investment, and build more good, affordable homes, including much-needed council homes. I suggest that you do the same.”
Tameside Councillors will now seek legal advice on the next steps following this second rejection, which saw Conservatives and some Independents join Reform UK in voting no.
But despite the arguments of it taking away their right to decide on planning applications, Ms Rayner insisted: “The National Scheme of Delegation strengthens England’s planning system, guaranteeing consistent planning decisions for residents and businesses alike.
“Importantly, the national scheme preserves elected members’ rights to decide directly on the most significant planning applications.
“The vast majority of councils recognise the benefits of the scheme, including that it supports committees and councillors to be as effective as possible.
“That is why so many authorities have made the required changes to their constitutions and can operate their planning committees lawfully.
“Tameside is now one of a tiny handful of councils in England that has not yet adopted the national scheme.
“I understand that there are a range of views on these changes.
“The government has taken time to consult with a huge range of interested parties, including MPs, councillors and the public.
“As a result, the system is informed by these views and builds on best practice throughout local government.
“I am confident that it is a significant improvement on the patchwork of schemes that preceded it.”