THERE is no need to carry out a review of the changes made to the constitution in January at present, Powys Council has said.

Changes to the council's constitution in January gave more decision-making powers to staff in what was described as a "tidying-up exercise".

However, as the changes settle in they have come in for criticism, with some worrying that it has taken many major planning decisions out of the hands of council committees.

But a council spokesman said: “The council can review its constitution at any point. However, due to Covid-19, the new rules in the constitution have not been properly tested and used.

“Until the new process has been fully tested, we do not see the need to carry out a review at present.”

In March , due to the coronavirus pandemic, the call in procedure which allows councillors to put contentious application in front of the planning committee was suspended for six months.

Councillor Elwyn Vaughan, chairman of the democratic services committee, called for the review  after he had been contacted by people with concerns about the changes.

His committee had looked at the changes in January and recommended the councillors back them at the full council meeting. But now there is a greater understanding of the consequences of the decision.

Cllr Vaughan (Glantwymyn – Plaid Cymru), said: “Naturally the situation due to Covid-19 has confused matters.

“However it is imperative that the public have faith in the planning process, that there is transparency.

“I have already suggested to officers the need to lift the councillor call in ban this month.

“Hopefully that can be agreed at a future meeting and any further constitutional changes can then be looked at in due course."

At the moment the only planning applications going before a committee are:

  • Major applications made by PCC or affecting their property
  • Applications submitted by a councillor or staff
  • Departures from the development plan
  • Applications referred to the committee by a senior planning officer

In recent weeks the Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales (CPRW) and groups of campaigners against chicken farms have highlighted the issues and feel effectively that they are being “shut out” of the planning process.

They have called for a “moratorium” on chicken farm planning application so that the affects these have on the environment can be done.

A meeting of the planning committee, the first since March, is due to take place later this month.