Taking decisions on planning applications is not for the faint-hearted, particularly when the subjects are controversial. Whatever anyone says, making decisions on individual planning applications has little to do with democracy.

The rules say planning applications should be approved unless there are good reasons why not. The fact that a particular development is unpopular is not one of those reasons.

It means that those charged with taking decisions on planning applications have to have a degree of specialist knowledge and an ability to understand and apply planning rules and guidelines laid down both by Government and by the local authority in its own local plan.

Refusing an application while failing to do that may make them popular in the eyes of some but can also be a costly mistake for the authority.

It is for that reason that the vast majority of planning authorities do not allow for individual planning applications to be decided by a full meeting of councillors. They leave it to an expert committee advised by planning experts.

Historically, that has never been the case in Oxford. Has that led to better decisions in the city? That depends on which side of the fence you sit.