Local authorities are within the ‘purdah’ period in the run up to local elections being held on 5th May 2022.
Planning applications which are judged to be sensitive are not taken to planning committee within this period to ensure that no irrational decisions are made which may be of a political nature. This protects the Councillors, and this also importantly ensures that planning applications are considered on their own merits.
Within the south and southwest, local elections are being held in all of the London Boroughs, Plymouth, Southampton, Gosport, Reading, Winchester, Worthing, Eastleigh, Basingstoke and Dean.
Local elections are also taking place in Somerset with the Government proposing to align the city, town and parish council elections with the forthcoming new elected Councillors expected to oversee the local government reorganisation to establish this single ‘New Unitary Authority’ status.
It will be interesting to see if there is any change in political party control (leadership of Councils) following these local elections.
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