A councillor has become the latest to be criticised by a planning chairman for not attending or making a representation to a planning meeting after 'calling in' a decision.

But Cllr Alison Wilson has told the Local Democracy Reporting Service she understood the application was to be withdrawn prior to the meeting.

A "call-in" is a formal power that allows elected councillors to bring a planning application before a committee instead of letting officers decide it alone.

An application on a single storey rear/side extension at a home in Berkeley Road, Shirley, was called in to the authority's latest lively meeting by Cllr Alison Wilson.

Councillors heard there had been no objections from statutory consultees or the pubic, and the only objection had been lodged by the Shirley West councillor.

When Cllr Bob Grinsell, chairman of the planning committee, began the debate he said: "In our Solihull planning handbook it is requested if a councillor calls a matter to be seen by this committee then they should either make their representation in person or online, or provide a written statement.

"As far as I am aware that has not been adhered to so I'm saying it for the record because I know I have been accused of calling people out previously."

Cllr Michael James raised that the scheme was not complaint with the authority's planning policies particularly P14.

This planning policy requires development proposals to protect and enhance existing and potential occupiers' amenity, ensuring projects act as a "good neighbour" regarding light, privacy, and local character.

"The extension is being placed right in the eye line of the neighbours window, so I think that is a breach of p14," the councillor said.

Officer Lawrence Osborne replied: "P14 looks at primary habitable rooms – a utility room shown here (next to neighbours) is not a primary room."

Cllr James then quipped: "With respect anything behind the confines of your own home is considered private.

"Anyone could walk round in their birthday suit and love life."

The chairman joked: "Do you walk round the utiiity in your birthday suit?" before Cllr James replied "from time to time" – which brought laughter from other members of the committee.

The chairman then said: "It has to be a habitable room – I have had that argument over the last 10 years, but I look forward to living next to you."

When the vote was held the application was approved with seven councillors voting in favour and one against.

Following the meeting Cllr Wilson told the LDRS she had been asked to call the matter in by residents.

The councillor said prior to the meeting she had been in contact with planning officers on the nature of the objection, which she discovered were broader issues and not planning issues.

"As far as I understood it had been communicated to the chairman to take it off the agenda," the councillor added.

Last year the chairman was similarly critical of Castle Bromwich councillor Alan Feeney who he accused of 'wasting the committee's time', which led Cllr Feeney to hit back saying representing residents is never a waste of time.