Councillors think they are up to speed on planning issues, says poll

The vast majority of councillors who sit on the nation’s planning committees are confident that they are reasonably well informed and able to deal with the issues they face in development applications, writes Stuart Macdonald.

These were the key findings from a straw poll conducted by the Royal Town Planning Institute and Politicians in Planning Association survey conducted on behalf of Regenerate this month (see box below for further findings).

According to the poll four in 10 respondents felt well informed about the environmental issues they had to consider with the rest saying they felt informed but had some gaps in their knowledge.

The figures were broadly similar when councillors were asked about their knowledge of architecture and design. All respondents said they felt either fully trained to do their jobs or were well trained but had some gaps.

Andrew Matheson, a spokesman for the RTPI and organiser of PIPA, said: “We are very encouraged by the findings. It shows that local authorities have been working well to provide councillors with the skills they need.”

He added that PIPA was running a conference on 23 June in Birmingham for all councillors, but particularly aimed at those who will be newly elected on 3 May.

The poll came as the DCLG-sponsored Councillors’ Commission set about trying to find out why the number of young or black and minority ethnic people becoming councillors is so low.