“I don’t personally like it” is not a material planning consideration.
It never has been—although some planning committees remain remarkably determined to test the proposition.
Good decisions are not achieved by removing democratic involvement. They are achieved when the right applications reach committee, members understand the planning balance and decisions are based on evidence, policy and genuinely material considerations.
The proposed National Scheme of Delegation may bring greater consistency by allowing officers to determine more routine applications while committees focus on development of real local significance.
That could be positive. But delegation alone will not fix delay or poor decision-making. Authorities also need experienced officers, clear reports, properly trained members and the confidence to distinguish planning harm from personal preference.
Fewer committee decisions may help. Better committee decisions certainly would.