Councillors need training to make planning decisions, says BPF

Local councillors must be given formal training before they make planning decisions, a parliamentary group was told by the British Property Federation on Wednesday.

Giving evidence to the Communities and Local Government select committee, BPF chief executive Liz Peace said it was “incredible that those involved in a quasi-judicial process do not have to have formal training".

Peace’s comments were backed by Ruth Cadbury, a councillor for the London borough of Hounslow. Cadbury suggested using external trainers, and said that training could be more imaginative.

The BPF has suggested that its leading member companies would be willing to hold training sessions to help inform the public sector, and improve the skills of those already working within the system.