Proposed changes to planning rules in Barnet could “erode the rights of residents” by meaning fewer building projects are assessed by a democratic committee.

Under changes put forward by Barnet’s Conservative group, only applications that have received five or more letters of objection would be assessed by the planning committee.

Currently applications only need to receive three or more letters.

The move would mean one third of the applications currently assessed by the borough’s planning committee would be decided by individual planning officers.

The authority hopes to save in the region of £40,000 by reducing the number of applications heard at committee by about 100 every year.

In the past 12 months, 296 plans were sent to committee, something the council says increases the cost of each application by about £400 in councillors’ and officers’ time.

The council claims the current level of applications being heard by committee is unsustainable, with extra meetings having to be arranged because so many run over time.

Leader of Barnet’s Liberal Democrats, Councillor Jack Cohen, has been on the planning committee since 1986 but believes the plans are undemocratic.

He said: "These plans erode the rights of residents. When we took the administration in 1986, public speaking wasn’t allowed and since the Conservatives have had control they have made it more and more difficult for people to object to applications.

“The worst thing is that the officers will be making the decisions behind closed doors meaning neither the public nor the councillors will be able to have their say.

“There is a backlog but to say it is unsustainable is nonsense. The problem is that they reduced the number of committees from three to two – they’re just looking to stop people speaking.

“They’re too busy trying to privatise services rather than doing the job they are paid for. This is bad news all round.”

The Times Series is awaiting a response from the Conservative group.