SOMERSET Council is implementing emergency measures to its planning system in a bid to bring down an enormous backlog of decisions.

Since the creation of the new unitary authority in April 2023, the council has faced a significant increase in the number of planning applications, with its remaining officers struggling to make decisions in a timely fashion.

To rectify the situation, the ruling Liberal Democrat administration is making a series of changes to free up officer time and clear the backlog, allowing more developments to proceed and preventing further appeals to the Planning Inspectorate.

The Conservative opposition group has criticised the council’s steps as “an admission of failure” and believes it will lead to communities being “sidelined”.

As part of the new measures, which come into force from Monday, July 28, neither applicants nor elected councillors will be able to “chase for updates” on the status of applications.

Planning officers will not attend meetings which “don’t support the objective of reducing the backlog”, and will only accept amendments to applications “in limited circumstances”.

The number of site visits will be significantly reduced, with applicants having only one opportunity after plans have been submitted to provide additional information – and they must do so within 14 days of a request being made.

Additionally, councillors will have to meet stricter criteria to bring applications before the relevant planning committee, and new applications will be “triaged” to ensure faster decisions.

The council admitted that the backlog had partially been caused by the multiple different IT systems which are still in operation – more than two years on from the dissolution of the district and county councils.

Councillor Mike Rigby, portfolio holder for economic development, planning and assets, said progress would be reviewed after 12 weeks and that longer-term plans would be put in place as part of the next phase of the council’s transformation programme.

He said: “This is an incredibly complex problem to solve, and we recognise that this critical action will impact on our residents.

“But it is necessary to bring work in progress down to a more manageable and sustainable standard and to make Somerset’s planning service a great place to work for current colleagues and prospective employees, and, most importantly, to improve our offer to our communities.

“These actions are aimed at improving our reputation with service users in the future and we ask for patience while we put these measures in place.

“It is a critical phase of a much wider programme of work to drive positive change in our service.”

The Conservative opposition group has lambasted these changes as “an admission of failure”, with group leader Councillor Diogo Rodrigues stating that the changes raise “serious concerns” about Somerset’s future.

Mr Rodrigues, who represents the Bridgwater East and Bawdrip division, said: “The planning house is on fire and Somerset deserves better. The Lib Dems must take responsibility for the system they have broken.”

The next phase will be discussed by the council’s corporate and resources scrutiny committee when it meets on Wednesday, July 30.