QUESTIONS have been asked about why the leader of Exeter City Council sits on its planning committee, despite national guidance advising otherwise.

The issue was raised by public speaker Peter Cleasby, a contributor to local news outlet “Exeter Observer” and a volunteer researcher for the Exeter Green Party, at a full council meeting held on Tuesday, April 18. 

He referred to guidance from the Local Government Association’s Planning Advisory Service, which states: “The leader and portfolio holder of a local authority, who play an important role driving planning policies and proposals, should normally exclude themselves from decision making committees.

“This is to avoid the perception of a conflict of interests and predisposition.”

Council leader Phil Bialyk (Labour, Exwick) is a permanent member of Exeter’s planning committee, which votes on major and often controversial applications.

In addition, Councillor Emma Morse (Labour, Mincinglake and Whipton), the council’s portfolio holder for city development and planning, is chair of the committee.

The guidance, published in 2019, is not mandatory or legally binding but does set out how councillors can “get involved in planning discussions on plan making and on applications on behalf of their communities in a fair, impartial and transparent way”.

In response to Mr Cleasby asking why Exeter doesn’t follow it, Cllr Bialyk repeated those words. 

He told the meeting: “Exeter City Council seeks to ensure that all decisions on plan making and planning applications are undertaken on communities in a fair, impartial and transparent way.”

He added: “Whilst local authorities should have regard to [the guidance’s] provisions, they are not mandatory.

“It is a matter for leaders of the various political groups represented on the council to identify members of their groups for membership of all committees, including the planning committee, in accordance with the statutory requirement for political proportionality.”

Cllr Bialyk said that “all matters will be taken into consideration to include avoiding pre-determination and impression of it”.

He reminded the meeting that the leaders of the opposition Green Party and Conservative groups also sit on the committee, although the guidance does not suggest they should exclude themselves.

“I think we should be allowed to put who we believe to be on there,” the council leader added. “I’m not legally obliged to follow the guidance. I chose not to follow the guidance.”