Row Over Additional ‘Local Plan’ Costs

A row has erupted over plans by Harborough District Council to spend an additional £1.9m on preparing a new Local Plan.

The coalition-run authority says the money is needed for extra staff, consultants and technical experts to work on the major project, which will set out where new developments can and cannot go across the area in future years.

But opposition Conservative councillors are demanding there is full scrutiny of why the extra finance is needed, which if approved would take the total cost of preparing the plan to £3m.

Cllr Phil King is the group’s finance spokesperson:

The Council say the new Local Plan is beneficial to provide long term certainty, allocate development in sustainable locations and protect important natural spaces and built heritage.

Cllr Simon Galton, portfolio holder for finance, has defended the need for extra money to be spent on the project:

A final decision on the matter is set to be taken at a meeting next week when councillors will also vote on controversial plans to accept some of Leicester’s unmet housing need.