LOCAL councillors have welcomed a U-turn on a ruling that banned them commenting on planning issues in Steeton, Silsden, Eastburn and Addingham.

Craven ward councillors Rebecca Whitaker and Adrian Naylor said democracy had been restored and they could once again represent the interests of villagers.

They had been concerned that local opinions could be muted over important planning applications such as the controversial proposed enabling road off Bolton Road in Silsden.

The controversy began in May after Bradford Council removed one word in its constitution, with the inadvertent result that none of the three Craven councillors could comment on planning applications in their ward.

The original rule – common to councils across the country – was designed to stop members of planning committees commenting publicly on planning applications due to come before their own committee.

The aim was to stop councillors pre-empting decisions before they attended the actual meeting and had the full facts laid before them.

May’s change from “relevant committee” to simply “committee” in the-page constitution meant that anyone sitting on any of the council’s three planning committees could not comment on matters coming before either of the other two committees.

This particularly affected about four council wards – including Craven – where all three councillors sit on one of the committees.

Councillors Whitaker and Naylor both raised the issue with the City Solicitor, and council officers have spent several months working behind-the-scenes to reverse the decision without inadvertently causing other knock-on problems.

The council’s legal team has now written to councillors informing them that the issue has been sorted out.

Cllr Whitaker said she had first spotted the problem in July with regard to the committee she sat on.

She said: “I was a bit concerned. The change was a huge flaw in democracy and couldn’t possibly be right.

“We couldn’t represent our residents in the way we’re supposed to do. It’s immensely important for councillors to be able to represent their constituents regarding planning applications.

“I think officers genuinely hadn’t realised the impact. Everyone has been working had since then to make sure it’s all right and correct. It had to be done in a proper way and go through the process.

Cllr Naylor said the new stage decision gave back representation to the people of Craven and other wards across the district.

He said: “It allows their elected councillors to represent them and advocate on behalf of residents at planning panels. This is an important part of democracy.”

The council’s legal department, in its letter to councillors, said: “The change had unintended consequences which were not foreseen, however, namely that wards where all the members are on a planning body cannot make representations on behalf of residents.

“We would, however, suggest to planning members that they seek to refrain from leading campaigns in support or opposition to planning applications.”