REFERRING to John Timbrell’s letter in this week’s Review, a local planning authority is authorised to set up a planning committee to decide planning applications, or­iginally under the provisions of the Town and Country Planning Act 1947 and subsequent legislation, the most recent being the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 in respect of England and Wales.

The planning committee is defined as a committee of local authority councillors that sit as the local planning authority to determine planning applications.

I studied town and country planning law  in the mid-70s  as part of professional examinations but due to the passage of time, unfortunately I do not remember the relevant clauses and paragraphs.

I am only repeating what I was told by lecturers, and read in the relevant text books and correspondence course notes when studying all those years ago.

If Mr Timbrell is dissatisfied I suggest that he writes to the Local

Government Ombudsman who will explain exactly how the powers are devolved.

– David Fleming, Mitcheldean.