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  From the Telegraph this morning:
  
  "Councillors across the country are offering themselves for hire to property developers who are hoping to take advantage of relaxed planning laws which come into effect within weeks, a Daily Telegraph investigation reveals on Monday.
  
  Local government politicians are trading on their inside knowledge of the planning system to receive fees of up to £20,000 for advice on how to get developments approved, it can be disclosed.
  
  Despite apparently creating the potential for a conflict of interest, it is not illegal for councillors to work as paid consultants. Councils are expected to face an increase in applications for building when new planning laws take effect at the end of this month.
  
  Under the changes, local authorities without a plan for development in their area will be expected to approve any application which can be said to be a "sustainable development", a term that has alarmed conservationists because it is open to wide interpretation.
  
  Councillors who can help property developers take advantage of the new laws are expecting greater demand for services as almost half of all councils have failed to agree their local plans".
  
  Thank goodness Dover District Council have a Local Development Framework and a Core Strategy in place. This could be a nightmare of corruption where Councils don't have a Local Plan.
  
  
  
  Roger

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