A SUGGESTION made by some Evesham town councillors to change the planning applications procedure was opposed by a majority at a meeting.

Committee members who met at a recess meeting in August suggested a change was needed to the current planning procedure.

During this recess period the council meet with six members, usually the Mayor and one member from each of Evesham's wards. They met to determine planning applications.

The six members, councillor Michael Elliman for north Evesham, councillor Ronald Cartright for south Evesham, councillor Alan Booth, councillor Diane Raphael for Great Hampton and councillor Patrick Clifford for Little Hampton felt more time was needed when discussing applications.

Members want more time to discuss applications in detail when they did not have the pressure of considering other items on the agenda at the monthly meetings.

The committee put their suggestion, to have a formal planning sub-committee which would meet twice a month, preferably during the daytime, to the council at Monday's meeting.

The majority of councillors disagreed with the change with many expressing views that it was the duty of all councillors to look at these applications.

Councillor Josephine Sandalls for north Evesham said: "I am not happy with this proposal. I would only say whoever goes on this committee should have proper training with the planning procedure. All members should have in-depth planning training."

Councillor Ronald Cartright opposed the suggestion on the grounds that all councillors had a right to express their views on planning applications. "I would vote against this committee, all councillors should be able to put their concerns forward on a planning application. Planning is an important committee the fact is all councillors should be able to put their issues over any application across to the council."

Other councillors felt a sub committee to discuss planning applications, with only six members was not a sufficient amount.

"The planning meeting we have in place now is a testament of what's going on. Six members aren't enough to make a decision on an application. It's every councillor's duty to look at the planning applications," said Councillor Sophie Christopher.

Evesham councillors voted against the sub committee with many raising the point that any decision on a planning application was only preliminary. Wychavon District Council makes all final decisions on applications therefore the town council decided to keep the planning procedure as it is.