A CAMPAIGN for councillors to undergo training for dealing with planning applications has received support from Ilkley's planning boss.

The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) is calling for compulsory training for local councillors involved in the planning process to help them understand the economic and environmental benefits offered by planning applications.

The move is part of a planning reform package proposed by the CLA as a vital boost to rural economy recovery after the widespread damage inflicted by foot and mouth disease.

Dorothy Fairburn, CLA regional director Yorkshire, said: "We want to see a more positive, flexible and efficient planning system to help us create the new enterprises and jobs which are so desperately needed in the countryside.

Ilkley Parish Council's planning chairman is Audrey Brand, who has been doing the job for around 10 years and represented the town at the last Unitary Development Plan (UDP) public inquiry.

Coun Brand said that Ilkley Town Hall planning officer Martyn Burke had been very helpful to her and her fellow councillors.

"I also go to all the conferences including urban regeneration, environment and international ones where I meet people from Europe. I make it my business to keep up to date and I get all the documents to read," said Coun Brand.

But she said she did agree with planning training for councillors especially on smaller parish councils or on some of the new parish councils being proposed in villages in Bradford.

In Ilkley she said that members of the planning committee were very conscientious and had the advantage of business experience such as architects and financiers.

"We have been congratulated by Bradford Council because we are professional and very thorough in the job we do," Coun Brand said.

The CLA says that improved clarity in planing policies is vital to allow applicants to prepare development proposals with greater certainty.

The Association is also arguing for a review of permitted development rights to speed up the process by preventing minor developments from being caught up in the system - but it is opposed to the abolition of permitted development rights for temporary uses, which would be detrimental to some rural businesses, especially farming.

Miss Fairburn said: "The CLA welcomes the Government's commitment to review the planning system and the publication of the Planning Green Paper. We do not believe that local planning authorities currently have sufficient resources or manpower to carry out all their responsibilities effectively.

"There should be adequate training for planning officers and compulsory training for councillors who wish to sit on planning committees."

Coun Brand said: "Where you have smaller parish councils it might be beneficial and I think the new ones would benefit from that. Reading plans is quite an intricate business but you do get it from experience.

"I know the Government is encouraging a lot of smaller places to have their own parish councils and they would benefit from some help. And the Unitary Development Plan is quite a challenge - some people do not know what it is all about."