MOVES have been made for Cheshire West to publicly declare their concerns on government-led planning reform.

Two proposals, from Labour, Liberal Democrat, and Conservative CWAC councillors, have been put forward at the authority’s full council meeting this week.

If adopted, both motions will require the authority to state their concerns to the Ministry for Housing, Local Government, and Communities.

Cllr Warner and Cllr Roberts’ proposal also resolves to ‘support local residents to establish Neighbourhood Forums in unparished areas’, and ‘write to the Secretary of State for Housing Communities and Local Government to express concerns and seek assurances that the reforms will put local people first and local communities front and centre of reforms’.

A second motion, from Conservatives Cllr Helen Weltman — who is also Shadow Cabinet Member for Democracy, Workforce, and Localities — and Cllr Mike Jones, similarly asks CWAC to respond to the ongoing government consultation on the reforms in order to ask ministers to reconsider the ideas.

The proposed changes come in the form of two government white papers, which claim to make the planning process more open, rules-based, and encourage more development.

Concerns have already been expressed on the reforms by Cheshire East leader, Sam Corcoran, who said last month they could lead to a reduction in affordable housing being built in his borough, as well as the removal of local democracy decision-making powers.

CWAC’s full council will meet at 6.10pm on Thursday, October 22.