Mayor's New Powers a Snub to Local Democracy (Southwark Liberal Democrats)

Southwark Liberal Democrats <info@southwark-libdems.org.uk>

Mayor's New Powers a Snub to Local Democracy

July 18, 2006 10:12 PM

Southwark Liberal Democrats have labelled the Government's plans to award the Labour Mayor of London more powers over planning and affordable housing allocation as a snub to local democracy.

Commenting, Cllr Richard Thomas, Southwark's Liberal Democrat Executive Member for Regeneration, said:

"This cosy relationship between the Labour Mayor and the Labour Government will do nothing for local democracy as local authorities are once again stripped of powers that have a direct impact on local residents."

"It is a fundamental principle that important planning decisions should be taken by the authority nearest to the people that are most affected, and that is the council."

"We have already seen the Mayor's disregard for the views of Southwark residents when he threatened to challenge our Unitary Development Plan. It is deeply worrying to think that he has now been handed even more powers to impose inappropriate developments against local wishes."

Cllr James Gurling, Lib Dem Chair of Southwark's Planning Committee, added:

"The decision by Labour to place even more power in the Mayor's hands makes all the more important Southwark's planning policy, which was recently agreed unanimously by the Council."

"The planning committee will continue to make the best decisions possible for local residents in line with the law and in line with this policy that was widely consulted on."