If there’s one thing that’s thrown at me more often than anything else as a councillor, it’s that we’re all getting big brown envelopes stuffed with cash. As much as I kind of wished this was true (albeit without the taking bribes bit) life as a local politician is rather less like a gangster film and more about getting massive potholes repaired.

That said, trust in local government is pretty low. And by far the biggest accusation of dodgy goings-on is in the planning department. People are totally convinced that decisions on major developments are stitched up long before they ever reach the committee. Until recently, I would diligently assure residents that this just wasn’t true.

Then came a planning meeting just the other day that pierced my hopes of democracy in action.

Developers had submitted a planning application to build more than 200 houses on green fields on the outskirts of Middlesbrough in the heart of the area I represent. As is happening across the country, hundreds of new homes are being proposed with little clarity on how roads, schools and GP surgeries will cope. Not to mention the permanent loss of green space.

Of course, I objected. But, despite a Labour committee member proposing approval, something remarkable happened. His motion failed! Residents, it seemed, had finally been heard.

Until, that is, until the planning officer intervened. Councillors were asked to explain their decision – and warned that if the developer appealed, the council would be left footing a hefty legal bill.

All hell broke loose as councillors questioned whether the democratic process meant anything at all. Moments later, the decision was reversed and the development approved. In the public gallery, one shouted what many were thinking: “Shocking, absolutely disgraceful”.

This, readers, is how the planning system currently operates. Developers push until they get the answer they want. Council officers live in fear of costly legal action. And here’s the worrying thing – the current housing secretary Steve Reed – and by extension Keir Starmer – wants to remove planning committees altogether in some cases, stripping local people of even the illusion of a voice.

Buried in a Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government press release about housing near train stations being given a default “yes”, it revealed shocking new measures…The reforms will require councils to inform Government when they’re inclined to block applications of 150 homes or more, so ministers can decide whether to step in and make the decision instead, “making sure that good housing projects don’t get lost.”

Particular attention will be paid to those applications where a planning committee intends to refuse it contrary to the advice of planning officers. Sound familiar?

Labour says they’re listening to communities, but this is the precise opposite. And when decisions are overridden and voices ignored, is it really any wonder that people think the brown envelopes must be hiding somewhere?

Why I might soon be heading to Slough

Where is the UK’s culture capital? London, our actual capital city, is obviously a top contender. As is York, up my way, which is a simply beautiful and historic place, with a cathedral to take your breath away.

How about…Slough.

No. It’s not the city that rolls of people’s tongues when it comes to top cultural destinations. But that’s why, I imagine, Slough-therners have put their hat in the ring to be named UK Town of Culture 2028. The bods who are compiling the bid say it “aims to dismantle decades of unfair reputations and tired ‘The Office’ stereotypes, replacing them with a confident, future-facing story of creativity, connectivity and cultural energy.”

As a Middlesbrough girl, I know the importance of getting your town’s name into the papers for good reasons rather than bad – and so Slough…I’m here for it! And if you win, I may even be tempted to visit.

Labour’s cringe-inducing social media push

Labour are doing their level best to up their social media game, but efforts are sadly currently landing on the wrong side of cringe. Case in point was a rather bizarre TikTok clip of Bridget Phillipson revealing the contents of her handbag.

The rather terrifying list included a crumpet wrapped in clingfilm (to signify Labour’s free breakfast clubs in schools, obv), a can of Iron Bru and a teddy bear.

Sadly, the Education Secretary – who is basically on a mission to cancel aspiration by vetoing private education – was missing one thing: a framed photo of Karl Marx and a copy of the Communist Manifesto.