THE planning committee of South Lakeland District Council has been warned of the possible consequences of ignoring officers' advice.

New figures show SLDC has been taken to appeal six times after decisions by its planning committee over major planning applications.

The council lost four appeals and just one of its decisions was upheld by a Government-appointed planning inspector.

The other appeal was withdrawn.

Planning officers recommend either an application is refused or approved, but on occasions, the committee can overturn that advice.

The planning committee, consisting of 18 councillors, has been told the council could be stripped of its powers.

A report to go before the committee at a meeting in Kendal tomorrow stated that most of the appeals were lodged after the planning committee overturned the recommendation of planning officers.

Mark Lynch, the team leader of SLDC's development control department, said the “quality” of decisions relating to major applications is “significantly lower" than it should be.

“The consequences of this trend could be very serious in terms of SLDC retaining its powers to determine future major development proposals,” he wrote.

“These powers could be removed from the council and be placed under the control of the Planning Inspectorate.”

Mr Lynch has suggested the situation be “carefully monitored”.

The council has, however, beaten Government targets over how quickly it makes planning decisions.

The Government expects 60 per cent of major developments to be decided within 13 weeks.

But between April and September SLDC’s rate was 100 per cent, and between January and March this year it was 83 per cent.

The council also beat the target for deciding minor planning applications.

The Government target expects more than 70 per cent of minor planning applications to be decided by councils within a certain time frame.

But the council managed 88.5 per cent between July and September, after a low of 53 per cent between April and June.