At the January 2026 meeting of Warton Parish Council, held in the Warton Parish Rooms, a concerning exchange took place.
Two councillors disagreed about whether parish councillors are allowed to speak against planning applications at parish level when they also serve as borough councillors and sit on the borough planning committee. One of those councillors is the Chair of the Parish Council.
One councillor argued, correctly, that it is not a conflict of interest for a parish councillor to oppose planning proposals on behalf of their community during a consultation. The Chair refused to engage with that argument, asserted that it was a conflict, and closed the discussion with the phrase: “We will have to agree to disagree.”
That response might sound reasonable. In practice, it left an important democratic issue unresolved.
What the rules actually say
Under the Localism Act 2011, councillors are required to declare disclosable pecuniary interests. Holding more than one elected role is not, in itself, a conflict of interest. Nor is expressing a view on a planning matter. The Localism Act 2011, section 25, confirms that councillors are allowed to express opinions without being taken to have predetermined an issue. What is not allowed is Predetermination, i.e. having a closed mind and refusing to consider evidence that for example might come up at a later date.
In plain terms: parish councillors are entitled to speak up for their communities on planning matters. In simple terms:
- They are allowed to hold views and express opinions on planning matters, and represent their community,
- They are not allowed to approach decisions with a closed mind (they must remain open to discussion and debate and be able to change their mind)
What are parish councils for?
Parish councils exist to represent local views. One of their most important functions is to comment on planning applications, including raising objections where appropriate. If parish councillors were expected to stay silent on planning, parish councils would serve little meaningful purpose. Residents elect councillors precisely so that their concerns can be voiced formally and on the record.
Serving on a borough planning committee does not remove that responsibility. It simply means councillors must manage their roles transparently and follow proper procedures at each level.
The responsibility of the Chair
A Chair’s role is to facilitate debate and provide clarity, not to avoid difficult discussions. Ending a serious governance issue with “agree to disagree” leaves councillors unsure of their responsibilities and residents unclear about how the parish council will represent them.
Invoking a borough council role as a reason not to debate parish responsibilities reverses accountability. Parish councillors are elected to serve the parish. Borough roles should be managed alongside that duty, not used to shut down discussion.
Leadership means addressing the issue
Planning decisions shape the future of Warton. Avoiding debate on how the parish council engages with planning weakens local democracy.
If a councillor believes their borough role prevents them from participating properly in parish planning discussions, then a serious question arises: can they effectively hold both positions? And if not, which role should they step back from?
A Chair who is unwilling to debate, explain, and provide clarity on such a central issue is not doing the job residents expect. In those circumstances, it is reasonable to question whether they should continue as Chair, or reconsider holding multiple roles.
Local democracy depends on open discussion and accountability. “Agree to disagree” may be polite, but when it avoids responsibility, it is not good enough.