A senior Solihull councillor says he would have preferred the authority to have more time but refusing the draft local plan risks the authority losing control.

As the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) reported last week the draft plan – which if adopted would become the blueprint for development in the borough up to 2043 – was under the spotlight at back-to-back Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council (SMBC) meetings.

The cabinet agreed to endorse the plan but, with a rapid timeline in place as the government wants it submitted before the end of the year, it now goes to full council on October 6.

There are no guarantees it gets approved as the Conservative don't have a majority on the authority following this year's local elections, so every vote will be crucial.

If approved at full council the local plan, which is set to deliver 13,000 homes in the period, would then go out to public consultation.

The council wants a public examination in late spring with the aim for it to be adopted in early 2028.

As the LDRS reported, councillors at the meetings raised what officers had called an "accelerated and challenging timescale".

Opposition Reform UK group leader Cllr Samantha Gethen said it was concerning adding: "It kind of feels we are being made to agree to the plan".

Cllr Andy Mackiewicz, the cabinet portfolio holder for climate change and planning, said at the economic development, managed growth and skills scrutiny board meeting: "If we don't get a plan through by the end of this year, we won't have a plan for three years.

"That's three years of developers rubbing their hands saying 'yipee' – a free-for-all.

"It's a simple choice. I know it's not an easy choice but we have got to get the plan through for the benefit of our borough."

Following the meetings he has now released a further statement calling on councillors to approve the plan at full council.

Cllr Mackiewicz said: "We are being asked to plan for vastly increased housing numbers within a very challenging government timetable.

"We would all like more time to consider something as important as this in greater detail, but simply refusing to move forward risks taking more control away from Solihull.

"Our priority is to put the strongest possible plan in place for Solihull – giving us greater protection against speculative development, protecting the places our residents value and making sure development is supported by the infrastructure our communities need."

The full council meeting, which is open to the public, is being held at the Civic Suite starting at 5pm.