CONTROVERSIAL proposals that would give councillors and the public just one chance to consider big planning applications have been described as an “affront to democracy”.

Legal officers at Oxford City Council want to shake up the planning process to make it ‘quicker and simpler’.

They have suggested all large applications be considered by a centralised committee – without the opportunity to appeal.

If the move is approved, it would mean the chance to “call-in”, or reconsider contentious applications like Oxford Brookes University’s plans to redevelop its Gypsy Lane campus, would disappear.

Brookes is looking to invest up to £150m in the new campus, but its plans have angered nearby residents.

An application was approved by the council’s strategic development control committee last year, but then called in for reconsideration and rejected after a vote by all 48 councillors.

The university has since tabled a new application.

However, under the new proposals the application would have been approved at the first hearing with no subsequent challenge.

Susan Lake, 69, chairman of Headington Hill Residents’ Association, said: “I am horrified. This is just another affront to democracy and that old-fashioned word justice.

“We pay council tax and yet will have no say at all if they streamline the process.

“It’s not perfect the way it is, but I would say it’s better than what is being considered – this is just another shortcut.”

Sietske Boeles, 57, planning secretary of Divinity Road Area Residents’ Association, said: “We condemn the proposed changes.

“We still want the full council to have the power to determine planning applications – particularly if it concerns controversial applications – because the planning committee can get it wrong.

“For example, Oxford University’s book depository application, which was recommended for approval, was approved by the strategic development control committee and then overturned at full council, having been called in.

“And when Oxford University went to appeal, a planning inspector agreed with the decision taken by the full council.”

Jeremy Thomas, the council’s head of legal services, argued that similar-sized councils did not have a call-in process and Oxford should do away with it.

Councillors will vote on the proposals on Monday.

Council leader Bob Price said: “The fact that other local authorities don’t do it is, to a degree, not relevant. The kinds of issues that come to the city council are quite different from other councils.”

But he added: “There is nothing more or less democratic about a committee of 12 councillors taking decisions rather than the council as a whole.”

Smaller planning applications will continue to be dealt with by the city’s six area committees with the option to call in decisions to the development control committee for reconsideration.

Liberal Democrat councillor David Rundle said: “This proposal isn’t just wrong in principle, the timing of it to many onlookers would look dodgy.

“A new Brookes application is in the pipeline – that should stand or fall on its own merits.”

Green group leader Craig Simmons said: “We oppose this because it is important to have checks and balances on every committee’s decision.”

Independent Working Class Association group leader Stuart Craft said: “Anything that runs contrary to democracy and transparency is something to worry about.”