SIXTEEN Conservative councillors on Malvern Hills District Council may be given special dispensation to deal with a planning application submitted by one of their close colleagues.

Under local government rules, councillors who know an applicant well have to declare an interest and abstain from the debate and vote.

But the southern area development committee has been left without a quorum when dealing with an application to create 11 homes at 213 and 215 Worcester Road as most of the committee know the applicant.

David Watkins, submitted his proposals before the local government elections on May 3 but was then elected as a councillor for the Morton Ward.

Because Coun Watkins is entitled to a decision on his application, the issue has been referred to the council's standards committee, which meets on Tuesday, June 5.