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Parish Councils (Planning)

I apologise in advance that I may have to leave before the end of the debate, which I am glad that my hon. Friend has secured. My hon. Friend’s comments underline the fact that consultation nowadays is almost perceived as a threat rather than an opportunity for councils and, sometimes, the Government. The Government often say that they are looking for ways in which to engage and involve people in political processes, including the planning process. Yet one method has been under their noses for some time. The parish councils, along with an expanded statutory right to consultation, could provide an excellent way to engage more people. Before I became a Member of Parliament, I served as a parish councillor at one point in my career. I was close to my electorate and was engaged in local decision making on their behalf. We could even consider extending that principle to urban areas that are unparished. If we abandoned the word ““parish”” in such instances, more community or neighbourhood councils could have a similar statutory right to consultation.