50 Shades of Planning Who's In Control?
Sep 27, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Mike Kiely, Chair of the Planning Officers Society, Annie Gingell, planning consultant at Turley, Gillian Macinnes, public sector planning manager, and Ben Woolnough, head of Planning at East Suffolk, dive into the ethics of planning decisions. They explore the implications of officers based on their recommendations, the importance of impartiality, and the complexities of report writing. The panel also debates the need for transparency in consultant roles and the challenges faced by councils in upholding ethics while navigating member decisions.
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Expert Independence Is Central At Inquiry
- Courts and inquiry rules stress independence: experts must help the inspector, not act as client advocates.
- Longstanding involvement with a project risks compromising perceived expert independence.
External Consultants Clashed Over Housing Need
- Annie recounts an inquiry where external consultants clashed over housing definitions and the council later declared a housing crisis.
- That revealed how weak external expertise can undermine a council's case and public trust.
Flag Your Role And Be Transparent
- Be transparent about roles: flag when you're acting as an expert, coordinator, or advocate so the inspector knows which hat you're wearing.
- Reproduce full documents rather than cherry-picking to preserve trust and clarity.