Proposals to fundamentally alter how planning applications are processed and to put more power into the hands of unelected officials will be scrutinised next week.

Over Easter parish and town councils were asked by Epping Forrest District Council to review proposals to change which building applications are scrutinised by councillors in committees, and which are left to officers.

The document suggested plans for ten houses - rather than the current five - are taken to committee, with those of nine or below scrutinised behind closed doors.

It also proposed applications with less than five objections are dealt with by officers.

The district council has asked for such reforms to quicken the planning process as the area braces for 15 years of unprecedented building under the 11,400 home Local Plan.

Twelve local councils and six district councillors responded to the plans, all offering at least some level of opposition.

Clerk Kathryn Richmond argued: "Waltham Abbey Town Council appreciates that there will be an increase in applications over the next few years, and that there are quite tight timescales introduced by Government for the decision-making process.

"This does not mean, however, that local democracy should be pushed to the side-lines in the decision-making process. Democracy takes time and effort, but it is essential in today’s society.

"Because of these pressures, it is even more important that there is local input to these

decisions.

"A desk-top exercise conducted by officers, who perhaps do not know the locale at all, may not come up with the right conclusion.

"Local democracy should not be compromised for administrative convenience."

Others, such as Moreton, Bobbingworth and the Lavers Parish Council, suggested rural homes were often too far from neighbours to attract five objections.

Mary Dadd, of the Ongar Neighbourhood Plan Community Group, argued officers alone could not be relied upon to scrutinise property developers.

She wrote: "Unfortunately, many applicants or developers will fudge over issues of concern or are economical with the truth.

"Hard pressed planning officers do not have time to check that all supporting evidence is accurate in applicant's submission."

A working group into the proposals meets on Monday, June 25.

Recommendations may then be at a full council meeting in July.