3. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the role of the Planning Inspectorate in Wales? OAQ53067

Thank you. The Planning Inspectorate is an arm's-length appellate body sponsored jointly with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. The Planning Inspectorate in Wales makes planning and other decisions under allied legislation based on the adopted local development plan and national planning policy on behalf of Welsh Ministers.

Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. You'll be aware that there's been outrage in Aberconwy regarding the Marl Lane planning application and, indeed, the process so far. This was a decision by planning councillors, members of the planning authority, who refused it, only then for it to be suggested that it goes to public inquiry. This was in March of this year, and then the public inquiry was delayed until September of this year, and it is fair to say it was very, very controversial. In fact, the headlines were, 'Battle of words at Marl Lane planning inquiry'. Because, quite frankly, the site is a constrained site, not in the local development plan, and it was highlighted during the submissions to the consultation, during the meetings, and in correspondence to the inquiry, that it breaches TAN 24, TAN 5, 'Planning Policy Wales' 6.5, cultural heritage CTH/1, development affecting heritage assets, DP/6, compliance with national policy and guidance. Now, there is a feeling in Aberconwy, and the finger-pointing is actually going on, for a change, to here—as opposed to UK Government by this Government—but it is, in fact, the Welsh Government that, in effect, are allowing one individual to actually come in and make decisions above the heads of the locally elected members, myself included, but our locally elected planning authority—thousands of objectors. Now, we are still waiting for a decision on this site, and I would just ask the Cabinet Secretary to have some empathy with those who are very concerned about this site. We don't have the school places, we haven't got the capacity for our health service. There are numerous reasons why this planning application shouldn't go ahead. It should not have been dragged out so long, and I just wonder at what stage will you actually ensure that the planning inspectorate have a little bit more respect for the democratic process within our local authorities, and, indeed, for our own residents.

Deputy Presiding Officer, the Assembly Member will be aware that, in my role as Cabinet Secretary with the responsibility for planning, I'm unable to comment on a specific planning application.