GOVERNMENT plans to scrap rules banning councillors from expressing views on planning applications have been welcomed by Tory MP Mike Freer.

Secretary of State for communities and local government, Eric Pickles MP, announced in the commons yesterday that the coalition government intends to “repeal” the predetermination regulations, which restrict elected council representatives from voting on matters they have show particular favour or opposition to.

It meant if a councillor had strong views or had spoken with residents on certain issues, they would be banned from voting on the matter at planning meetings. The restrictions also applied to councillors who were substitute members of planning committees, meaning dozens of elected councillors were unable to discuss any controversial plans submitted to Barnet Council.

If anyone was elected at the last election on promises of tackling large scale plans such as the Brent Cross Cricklewood regeneration, they would not have been able to vote against it as they had previously shown bias to the project.

Speaking at local government questions, Mr Pickles said: “I am delighted to inform the House that it is our intention to repeal those regulations.

“That means we can give local councils the thing that Members of Parliament so desire — that councillors with opinions can actually vote on those opinions.”

Mr Freer, MP for Finchley and Golders Green, said as ward councillor for Finchley Church End, he was swamped with complaints about planning concerns because his two ward colleagues were on planning committees and could not respond.

He now believes the move by the Government, which was proposed in the Conservative green paper on planning ahead of the General Election, will allow councillors to be more vocal on issues relevant to their ward.

He said: “Councillors who stood on a single issue could not have a say on the planning application. They have been elected but they can't sit on their planning committee.

“Councillors would have to be careful not to express an opinion on an issue. They could not show they were opposed to a plan and say beforehand that they would vote against it.

“This is localism in action. It's going back to allowing local councillors to do what they are elected to do. What it means is the local view will quite rightly have a place at in the planning committee.”

But the former leader of the council does not believe it will simply lead to all councillors opposing plans which a few residents are unhappy with and making it tougher for developers.

He said: “Some people in the past felt their views were ignored, but now they will be placed more centre stage.

“Residents felt developers tended to get more of a run than they did.

“Councillors have still got to make the decision based on planning grounds, but it just means the balance is restored. It certainly creates more of a level playing field.”