A MEMBER of the public will quiz councillors next week on why less than 10 per cent of planning applications are decided by councillors in public.

Bill Finlay has submitted a question to Cumberland Council and he will be given time to ask it at Tuesday's (September 26) meeting of the full council.

In his question to councillor Bob Kelly (Millom, Labour), the portfolio holder for Cumberland policy and regulatory services, he says: "I understand that over 90 per cent of all planning applications received by the council are dealt with by officers under delegated powers, with less than 10 per cent being determined by elected members on the planning committee which sits in public and where interested parties may attend and make representations.

"This means that only those applications determined by Planning Committee are subject to public overview and scrutiny in real time.

"I'd like to know what processes of overview and scrutiny are in place for the 90 per cent of applications determined by officers alone?

"Are any routinely subject to either peer review or referred to line managers to be checked for their thoroughness and consistency to all adopted policies and good practice before being determined? If only some, who decides which?

"I also wish to know what the processes and criteria are whereby applications that would normally be determined under delegated powers are removed from delegation and instead considered by planning committee.

"If a comprehensive answer is not possible today, could I ask that council agrees this question be referred to the relevant overview and scrutiny committee, and it be tasked to investigate as a matter of priority?"

Tuesday's public meeting is due to start at 1pm and it will be held in the Cathedral Room in the Civic Centre in Carlisle.