A bid to overhaul Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council’s planning department has been branded an assault on democracy.

Independent councillor Mike Taylor hit out at the overview and scrutiny committee’s recommendation to move from the long-established three-area system to a borough-wide set-up.

Since 1974 every councillor has had a say on important planning applications relating to their ward.

The “area one” committee covers the south west of the borough, including Tonbridge and Hildenborough; area two focuses on the central section, including West Malling and Borough Green; and area three encompasses the north east, including Snodland and Aylesford.

Each committee has the option to meet every six weeks depending on the number of applications.

But following a review of the council’s structure by the Local Government Association last year, the committee recommended the borough council adopt a borough-wide committee similar to other Kent councils, comprising between 13 and 15 councillors.

Cllr Taylor, of Borough Green and Long Mill ward, said: “It’s an assault on democracy. The one good thing about the council is every elected member has a say.”

Adrian Stanfield, Tonbridge and Malling council’s director of central services and monitoring officer, said: “The overview and scrutiny committee has been considering how meeting arrangements might be reviewed following the recommendations of a peer challenge of the council’s performance carried out by the Local Government Association.

“It’s an assault on democracy. The one good thing about the council is every elected member has a say...” — Cllr Mike Taylor

“This has been a wide-ranging review, looking not only at the structure of the area planning committees, but also generally at the number and style of meetings.

“The committee accepted the recommendations of the LGA to reduce the number of non-essential meetings, review the format of meetings and to develop a single planning committee structure.

“These recommendations will be considered further by the cabinet on Wednesday, October 7, so these important issues can be given careful scrutiny before a final decision is made.”

Cllr Taylor said the peer challenge is not binding in any way and it boiled down to democracy not being seen as conducive to a speedy process, adding: “There are other ways the planning system can be sped up without taking democracy out of it.

“Officers could spend less time debating minute details such as the size of windows and colour of bricks.

“These details are important but not crucial. The smidgeon of local knowledge is very valuable.”