A Solihull councillor has once again come under fire for allegedly wasting the time of the council's planning officers. However, Councillor Alan Feeney has hit back, asserting that representing his constituents is never a waste of time.
The latest clash between the Castle Bromwich councillor and the planning committee occurred during a meeting on April 15, where the final 15 minutes were dedicated to two planning applications in his ward that he had called in for committee decision. The applications included the demolition of a garage and erection of a two-storey side extension at a property in Elmfield Road, and the removal and redesign of a roof, including an extension to an existing dormer window at a home in Marlborough Road.
Planning officers had recommended approval for both applications and noted that Councillor Feeney was the only objector. During the meeting, Councillor Sardul Marwa expressed frustration, stating, "It is becoming a bit of a habit. Not turning up, calling the applications in and coming to us very late. Papers have been printed. It could have saved all that time."
Councillor Feeney attempted to respond but withdrew his request after being told it would require an adjournment. The committee unanimously approved the Elmfield Road application. For the Marlborough Road application, which was a resubmission of an approved application from 2020 with identical plans, Councillor Feeney argued that the extension could become an Airbnb or House in Multiple Occupancy. However, Councillor Dave Pinwell noted that since the circumstances were identical to the previous approval, there was little room to overturn the decision.
After the meeting, Councillor Feeney defended his actions, claiming he had withdrawn his objection to the Elmfield Road application almost two weeks prior, but officers failed to remove it from the agenda. He also stated that officers did not inform him that the Marlborough Road application had been previously approved. "Councillors ought to have directed their remarks towards officers rather than politicking at me," he said.
