---

Parish Councils (Planning)

I agree with the hon. Gentleman to a great extent. Since I was first engaged in local government, I have seen a steady erosion of the discretion available to local government, at any level, to have an effect on the future of its communities. It is constantly looking over its shoulder and thinking, ““What will a planning inspector make of this?””, before reaching a decision. I am afraid that I take a slightly iconoclastic view, but I think that, in planning, precedent is the worst enemy of sensible decision making. It prevents local authorities from making the right decision in support of their local community instead of that which is simply what others have done before or may do in future. I will touch on the exact point that the hon. Gentleman raised in a moment.