MEMBERS of Dudley Council have backed a bid to call for the law to be changed to give more decision-making powers back to local authorities to avoid plans refused locally being overturned by the Planning Inspectorate.

The Labour run authority agreed to back a motion put forward by UKIP councillor Dean Perks urging the council to “write to the Local Government Association, the borough’s Members of Parliament and the Secretary of State calling for a review of the law to give more powers back to local authorities to make local decisions”.

The Upper Gornal and Woodsetton councillor said he was “pleased” the thumbs up was given to the motion as “the Planning Inspectorate continues to regularly overturn decisions made by this councils development control committee” despite the introduction of the Localism Act 2011 which was intended to increase local influence in planning decisions and offer opportunities for local people to influence the future of their areas.

Three big decisions made locally were overturned in August when pub property company NewRiver Retail appealed to the Planning Inspectorate over Dudley planning committee’s refusal to grant permission for pub schemes on the sites of The Ashwood pub at Wordsley, The Maypole in Halesowen and The Summer House at Woodsetton.

In all three cases there was strong opposition from residents but the schemes are now set to go ahead.