An Inappropriate Appointment

Members of Powys County Council have made a serious mistake in appointing Councillor Bobby Mills to the Chair of the County Planning Committee. Everyone in Powys knows that Bobby Mills is quite a character and very popular in his Newtown ward, but to appoint him to chair a crucial regulatory committee is a step too far.

Councillor Mills has made his view on wind farms very public and very clear, and having done so, cannot claim to be impartial on this topic. This has the effect of giving planning applicants an additional weapon in their armoury when their application comes to committee and increases the likelihood of appeal if the decision of the Planning Committee goes against them. Moreover, it puts the Council at risk of having to incur additional expense in defending appeals and bearing the appellant’s costs should those appeals be upheld.

It is clear that this appointment is calculated move on the part of the Montgomeryshire Independent Group to keep themselves in the public eye and gain publicity for their bid to have the three separate Shire Planning Committees reinstated.