Buckinghamshire Council councillors have dropped a call for a formal scrutiny review into the authority’s controversial decision to stop publishing members of the public’s comments on planning applications, after a heated meeting saw the original motion largely rewritten.
Amendment replaces formal review with cabinet update
An original proposal by Cllr Jonathan Waters, seconded by Cllr Mark Roberts, sought to refer the issue to the Growth, Infrastructure and Housing Select Committee for a formal investigation. That motion called for the committee to examine the circumstances that led to the March 2025 change, compare Buckinghamshire’s approach with other councils, and assess the options and consequences of the current system.
However, an amendment put forward by the cabinet member for planning, Cllr Peter Strachan, and seconded by Cllr Michael Bracken removed most of the original wording. The amended motion instead asked Cllr Strachan to update the select committee on work to identify a solution that meets legal advice, data-protection requirements and the council’s fiscal considerations, and to report back to councillors "if and when" a compliant solution is found and implemented, subject to an approved business case.
“Although this was treated at the time as an operational decision, its impact has been far wider. It changed the level of openness and transparency that residents had come to expect from the planning process and affected how this council is perceived.”
The quote above was included in council debate when Cllr Waters introduced his original motion, arguing the earlier decision had reduced the transparency residents expect from the planning system.
What was decided and why it matters
In March 2025 the council stopped displaying representations submitted by the public on its online planning portal. Councillors on both sides of the chamber expressed concerns during the recent meeting — some wanting a full scrutiny review to understand decision-making and alternatives; others supporting the amendment that emphasised legal and financial constraints.
The outcome leaves the matter under the oversight of the cabinet member for planning, with a requirement to update the select committee rather than submit to a formal, independent scrutiny exercise.
- Original proposal: Formal review by Growth, Infrastructure and Housing Select Committee.
- Amendment: Cabinet member to report progress and seek a compliant, cost-effective solution.
- Implementation: Any change to the portal would require an approved business case before being enacted.
Timeline
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Council stops publishing public comments on planning portal | March 2025 |
| Motion for formal scrutiny proposed and amended | July 2026 |
Local residents and campaigners who rely on the planning portal to follow applications will be watching for the cabinet member’s update to the select committee. The rewritten motion stops short of a full scrutiny probe, instead placing emphasis on finding a way to balance transparency with legal compliance and cost control.
How quickly the council can identify and implement a solution remains unclear from the council’s decision. Councillors voted to accept the amended motion and carry the rewritten text, deferring a deeper, committee-led inquiry for the time being.
For now, the change cements a governance route that centralises responsibility with the cabinet member for planning, rather than the select committee’s formal investigatory process. Residents seeking clarity on individual planning applications are likely to continue relying on existing channels until the council reports back.
If and when the cabinet member presents a compliant, costed proposal, councillors have required that it be implemented swiftly, subject to normal approvals.
Oliver Clarke is InfoRadar’s Buckinghamshire Civic Affairs Correspondent.
