THERE are calls for a full independent enquiry into the planning process at Bolton Council — with opposition members accusing the ruling Labour party of making decisions to win votes, block voting and agreeing on decisions before committee meetings.

Conservative Councillor and Planning Committee member Norman Critchley will present a motion to the full council meeting on Wednesday calling into question the fairness of the planning process and asking for an enquiry to be organised.

He has been strongly backed by his Conservative colleagues and the Bolton UKIP party, while the Liberal Democrats agree there are “serious concerns” about the process.

Labour chiefs have strongly rejected any suggestions of unfairness or incorrect behaviour and have labelled the accusations as “ridiculous.”

Conservative leader Cllr David Greenhalgh said the motion comes after “growing concerns” from his party and residents into what is taking place at the monthly meetings of the Planning Committee.

He said: “We are concerned about the transparency and overall decision making — residents who contact us believe it is far from being run as it should.

“There is a feeling that too much block voting is taking place and that there may be pre-meeting discussions — there is certainly not the level of councillor independence displayed on other committees.

He added: “We feel planning is too political — we believe decisions are being made for political gain in terms of wards and votes and what effect a decision could have on voting outcomes.”

This is a stance strongly backed by Bolton’s UKIP members, with group chair Cllr Paul Richardson stating: “As an attendee of every Planning Committee meeting since June 2014 either as a Member or an observer, there have been numerous instances where it has been patently obvious to me that the Labour Group in particular have voted ‘en bloc’.”

He added: “In my view political interference with the individual freedom of Planning Committee Members to make their own decisions is a perversion of the Planning Process and a breach of the Constitution.”

The Liberal Democrats are still deciding whether to back the motion, but leader Cllr Roger Hayes — who sits on the committee — said the party had “very strong concerns” about some of the things happening at planning.

The Labour groups has categorically rejected the accusations of the other parties, with its most senior member of the planning committee, Cllr Nick Peel stating that some of the suggestions being made are “ridiculous.”

He said: “Most applications are voted for unanimously by the committee and on the more controversial ones, I don’t think there is any evidence to suggest that members aren’t addressing all the relevant points.

“The make-up of the planning committee reflects the make-up of the council which reflects the voting of the people of Bolton — we have more members so it may look like a block vote if we all happen to vote one way.

“Planning is not whipped and I can say that no one has ever tried to whip me into voting a certain way.”

He added: “I think critics of the planning process are very often people or residents who have had a decision go against them, who are disappointed.”

Cllr Peel said the Tories should “look at themselves” regarding accusations of trying to win votes.

He said: “If anyone is being political it is them — many times the Conservatives will play to the gallery and vote against something that they know is going through because they want to look like they are standing up for people, I have seen that happen regularly.”