LOCAL AUTHORITIES AND PLANNING PERMISSION

That this House believes that it is entirely wrong that local authorities who need planning permission for things apply to themselves to receive it; further believes that this is wholly illegitimate and can lead to flawed and sometimes illegitimate decisions; believes that the public can have no confidence in decisions made where a local authority applies to itself for planning permission and then grants it; and believes that this must be changed so that this practice is outlawed and that local authorities must apply to a neutral body or authority when they want to seek planning permission for things in their area.