#local-councils

#local-councils

Once every seven years, the councillors get to exercise a profound power that has enormous implications. Councils get to decide if a candidate can get on the ticket for the election to become president. It's a privileged position the council members find themselves in. There are two routes to get on the ballot. The first and most obvious route is through the Oireachtas, where the signatures of 20 TDs and senators are required.

Strictly speaking, neighbours don't have any special status in the planning system. Their objections - often heartfelt, sometimes fierce - don't carry any automatic weight. Planning is meant to be a public, policy-driven process, not a private popularity contest. So comments from neighbours are only considered relevant if they raise planning issues, such as overlooking, overshadowing, traffic or design. That said, neighbours can still influence the outcome of a planning application - and in several indirect but meaningful ways.

More than 300 million pounds allocated to English councils for Ukrainian refugee accommodation remains unspent, while many face homelessness. This funds roughly a third of the one billion pound budget.

"The UK Planning System relies on paper-based processes, and AI can help to read and then extract the key information from it, to help both residents and planning officers. The productivity benefits will allow for a faster and cheaper service."