LDP delays hindering planning service and damaging relationships between staff and councillors

Ongoing delays in adopting key strategic documents have created significant risks for Wrexham Council and relationships between some members and officers are fractured.

That is the view of Audit Wales, which has carried out a review into the local authority’s planning service.

The report, due before members of the council’s audit committee on 8 February, took place prior to the local authority adopting its Local Development Plan in December 2023.

It is critical of the delays in adopting the plan and the risk it poses by “hindering the planning service in fulfilling its role as a key enabler across the council”.

Audit Wales adds that a delay in approving and updated the Council Plan 2020-2023 – alongside the late implementation of the LDP – leaves council services without the “strategic direction and leadership
they need to deliver services to the public.”

The report, which can be viewed in full here, highlights the fractured relationship between some members and officers.

Anecdotally we have been told this has worsened since the LDP was first refused by councillors in April 2023.

Audit Wales states that despite the planning service providing appropriate governance arrangements and comprehensive member training, professional officer advice is “frequently undermined”.

Its report highlights “some members’ adherence to the council’s values and behaviour framework”. This, Audit Wales says, is deterring some officers from applying for more senior positions within the council.

Questions are also asked over the operation of the planning committee, with Audit Wales saying that there is a “disproportionate amount of time being spent debating minor planning consents despite receiving professional officer guidance.”

The report continues onto state: “Despite officers providing comprehensive training on planning policies to all members, from observing Planning Committee meetings, it is apparent that some members are demonstrating a lack of understanding on fundamental planning issues and could apply a more strategic approach to planning issues.

“For example, we observed a disproportionate amount of time being spent debating minor planning consents despite receiving professional officer guidance.

“We heard that staff are reluctant to apply for more senior positions within development management and planning policy due to an awareness that those roles are subject to significant pressures from elected members.

“At the time of our fieldwork, there were still vacancies at both operational and senior levels within development management and planning policy teams adding increased pressure to an already overstretched team.

“Member and officer relationships appear to us to generally not be productive.

“We observed members questioning professional officer advice when dissatisfied with officers’ explanations on planning policies.

“Members frequently undermine professional officers by requesting second opinions from external legal providers.

“The council needs to consider whether members are acting efficiently and with regard to value for money as well as how this behaviour impacts the well-being and resilience of officers.”

Audit Wales has put forward three recommendations to to repair the relationship between officer and councillors and to improve the planning service at Wrexham Council going forward:-

Recommendation 1 – Office and member relationships

The Council ensures that members adhere to all policies and procedures relating to conduct and have full regard for the risks of going against professional officer advice. This should contribute towards better relationships between members and officers.

Recommendation 2 – Understanding roles and responsibilities

The Council ensures that members demonstrate an understanding that roles and responsibilities vary across different Council committees and adhere to those roles. This would ensure that discussions at committees are relevant and proportionate to a committee’s purpose.

Recommendation 3 – Corporate Risk Management

The Council ensures its Corporate Risk Register includes appropriate mitigating measures that are allocated to specific owners so that all members and officers are aware of their role in assuring risk is managed appropriately. If no mitigating actions can be identified for a specific risk, the council should note the reasons for this within the register to ensure transparency.

Wrexham Council is now required to complete an organisational response to Audit Wales, setting out setting out how and when it will take action to address the recommendations.

The report will be considered by members of Wrexham Council’s audit committee on Thursday 8 February.