Member

I have observed planning committees where the members resolve to go against a recommendation and then look to the officials to confect some reason to justify them; that should not happen. If the training gives members a stronger policy grounding in which to make contrary decisions where it is the right thing to do, that is the right thing to do. I am bound to say that this Bill has a touching faith in the independence of some officials as if they do not bring their own prejudices to the task. Too often, in my experience, wider officialdom tries to play the veto card to advance their own organisations’ narrow private interests. We need to empower councillors and mayors to see the whole picture and, where justified, cut through the treacle. That is the way to get Britain building. The training will help here.