Councillors across the political divide have joined forces in slamming the move for West Midlands mayor to be able to override the borough's councillors on major planning decisions.

And a major change to regulations has also come under fire from councillors with fears raised for the future of Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council's (SMBC) planning committee.

Mayors in 13 areas including the West Midlands will gain similar powers to Sadiq Khan in London, who is already able to "call in" planning decisions.

The change would apply to proposals with more than 150 homes, more than 15,000 square metres of commercial space or buildings over 30 metres.

And in addition to gaining the new "call-in" powers, mayors such as West Midlands mayor Richard Parker would be able to grant "up-front permission", which the government says will allow building to begin "without a developer having to apply".

At the latest full council meeting the authority's deputy leader, Cllr Heather Delaney proposed a motion to 'keep planning local'.

The motion called for the council to do various things including opposing the transfer of development management power to the mayor, ensuring planning decisions remain with democratically elected planning authorities and submitting a formal response to the government's consultation reflecting the position.

Introducing the motion Cllr Delaney, the council's deputy leader, said: "Planning is about people and the places they call home.

"When something is proposed that could change that community forever, people have a right to expect their voice will be heard.

"I'm increasingly concerned local people's voices are being pushed further and further away from planning decisions."

Cllr Bob Grinsell, chairman of the planning committee, said: "Having served on that committee for over 10 years I have had to consider over 1,500 planning applications.

"Every single one has provided opportunities for members and more importantly residents of Solihull to have their views heard.

"The government wishes to take much of that decision away and delegate to the mayor – a mayor who rarely visits Solihull."

Under national changes from the end of October councillors on planning committees will only be allowed to decide on the biggest applications with a presumption all decisions will be made by council officers, unless strict guidelines are met.

And councillors will no longer have the power to 'call-in' planning applications for consideration by elected members on planning committees.

Cllr Andy Mackiewicz, the cabinet portfolio holder for planning, said: "We need to have local knowledge and people to debate and bring up things.

"The things that need to come more to planning are the small applications, deciding how a house will fit in a street – I speak in support of the planning committee."

Cllr James Johnson said: "What I fear will happen is, as a result of this, potential people will stay home (in elections).

"They will feel like they have no faith in the system, no trust.

"It is a very dark day."

Cllr Alan Feeney said: "It does affect turnout.

"You try and stand on a doorstep and somebody raises a planning application and you have to say 'sorry nothing I can do'.

"We have to fight this because if we don't what is next?

"Give it three to five years like this and planning committees won't exist anymore."

Cllr James Bradley added: "We are the level of government closest to our residents.

"The powers being proposed are really stripping away our ability to carry out our job."

Councillors voted unanimously to support the motion at the meeting held on October 6.

Speaking to the BBC Mr Parker previously said: "It is about working as mayors – using our powers to best effect and calibrating with our council leaders.

"Any decisions we make over and above those made by councils have to be consistent with planning rules, local plans and national policy.

"The intention for government is to ensure projects and plans, particularly major sites, aren't held up because of indecision locally."

(Header image by Richard Law via Geograph.org.uk)