PLANS for housing and industrial schemes that could be approved by councillors living many miles away have been branded a disgrace.

Councillor Mark Wilkes said Durham County Council’s proposals to create planning committees with as little as 25 per cent local representation would create a “democratic deficit”.

The Lib Dem, who represents Framwellgate Moor, told the council’s cabinet: “Residents are going to be disgusted with these proposals.

“It is a disgrace.”

Argument flared over how planning applications should be decided under County Durham’s single council, which will replace the existing county and district authorities from April 1.

The cabinet backed plans for three area committees and a countywide group to handle major schemes.

Each area committee would have 16 members – eight from the areas involved and eight from outside.

It means that as few as two Wear Valley, Teesdale or Sedgefield councillors could vote on applications in their area.

Coun Nigel Martin, the leader of the council’s opposition Lib Dem group, suggested the proposals could put public confidence in the planning system at risk.

He said: “It (planning) is the one area of the work of councillors that local people get very involved with.

“The confidence of local people in the decision-making process is vital here, and I have concerns that the numbers we are putting in might put that at risk.”

He said the area committees could be expanded to 20 councillors.

Simon Henig, the Labour leader of Durham County Council, said: “I fully accept there are these issues and we do need to think about it carefully.

“It is a difficult balancing act. I think it is difficult to get it right between having that consistency and the right level of engagement.”

It is expected the area committees would meet every three weeks, handling up to 220 applications a year.

The countywide committee would be responsible for residential projects involving more than 200 houses, commercial developments greater than 10,000sq ft, and mining and waste issues.

A decision on the new planning structure will be taken at a full meeting of Durham County Council, expected later this month.

Other decisions reached

MORE details of how the council will work were revealed yesterday.

● Political leadership will probably come from a council leader and executive cabinet.

● Members of the public, businesses and charities will be invited to apply to join a panel to decide how much councillors are paid.

● The council chiefs will be announced in a fortnight.

● The council tax rates will be revealed in February.