Following a meeting of active citizens involved in planning in Southwark, we write to express our concerns on the proposal for increases in Mayoral Powers on Planning in the Capital.
Our main concern relates to the erosion of local democracy posed by this proposal precisely because local people have no opportunity to take part in or attempt to influence the decision making process after the Mayor takes over the proposal. We feel that this process should be far more transparent and open to scrutiny than is currently the case. Checks and balances at least from Assembly members need to be in place.
The discussion on what issues would trigger the decision to take over an application does not seem to be clear. It would be helpful to have set out what is considered to be strategically crucial in the London Plan. The actual procedure by which he accounts for his decision to take over an application is also not set out.