Solihull councillors on the Conservative-run authority are set to escalate their opposition to the West Midlands mayor being able to override the borough's councillors on major planning decisions.

As the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) previously reported the Labour government wants mayors in 13 areas including the West Midlands to 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".

The leader of Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council (SMBC), Cllr Karen Grinsell, previously told the LDRS: "Labour is once again trying to take planning decisions out of the hands of local communities.

"Solihull residents deserve a real say over what is built in their area, not decisions imposed by a regional mayor."

Now the authority's deputy leader, Cllr Heather Delaney, has proposed a motion to 'keep planning local'.

The motion, which is being seconded by Liberal Democrat Cllr James Bradley, calls for the authority to resolve to do various things including:

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• Oppose the transfer of development management powers from Solihull Council to the mayor including powers allowing the mayor to call in and determine applications that would otherwise be determined locally
• Call upon the government to ensure planning decisions remain with democratically elected local planning authorities
• Ask the council leader to write to government ministers setting out the council's position
• Submit a formal response to the government's planning powers for mayors in England consultation reflecting the position
• Reaffirm the council's commitment to delivering homes "while protecting the character of Solihull" and ensure "local people continue to have a meaningful voice in shaping the future of the places they call home"

Speaking to the BBC last month Mr Parker said some of the initial response to the move had "probably been a bit of an overreaction".

"It is about working as mayors – using our powers to best effect and calibrating with our council leaders," he said.

"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.

"If councils make decisions consistent with planning rules and local plans, the need for me to intervene will be limited at best."

Housing minister Matthew Pennycook said the powers were an "essential part of the toolkit mayors need to effectively deliver new homes and regeneration".

The motion is set to go in front of the next full council meeting taking place at the Civic Suite on October 6.