Ernie Clark. Hilperton Division, Wiltshire Council.

When is a clear instruction not an instruction? When it gets to WC.

Wiltshire Council planners seem to be having difficulty understanding the new planning rules announced by the government.

The most important change is the abolition of the Regional Spacial Strategy (RSS). This was a key part of the old government's planning 'system' whereby unelected people (such as Chambers of Commerce and house building companies) decided how many houses should be built and where they should go. Now, the decisions will be made at a local level, taking into account the actual need of people in the county for new housing.

The main areas of change proposed by the government are:

• Abolition of the RSS.

• Deliver incentives for local authorities to deliver sustainable development.

• Presumption in favour of sustainable development in the planning system.

A 'Decentralisation and Localism Bill' will provide the legal basis for this and give councils more power over planning and housing. Included in this will be the scrapping of minimum densities for new housing developments and the end of gardens being regarded as brownfield (or already developed) land.

The missive from the Minister is quite clear that his letter is to be taken as a definitive statement and both planning officers and Planning Inspectors must pay due cognisance to it as a 'material planning consideration'. However, it would seem that Wiltshire Council planners are reluctant to take on the implications of the change, saying the council should do 'business as usual' until the government provides more clarity.

This is complete and utter nonsense but seems to indicate the silo mentality that some council officers have. I have emailed the council for clarification of their statement and I will let you know what their answer is. I emailed on Monday, so I will probably get a reply by the middle of next week (as a councillor, I theoretically receive more prompt attention to my emails than a member of the public would)!!