Neighbours will no longer get notified of planning applications close to them through the post in Reading as part of cost cutting measures.
For years, people have received letters in the post informing them of plans submitted for neighbouring properties as part of the planning consultation process.
But now the Labour administration at Reading Borough Council has chosen to end the postal notifications as part of measures that are expected to save £218,000 annually.
Soon, neighbours will have to rely on seeing site notices for applications close to them, which must be displayed at the subject site.
The change has been made following a decision by the council’s policy committee on Monday, October 21.
During the meeting, Rob White (Green, Park), the leader of the opposition, said: “Green councillors don’t support stopping notifying about planning applications by post, we are concerned that this will cause residents to miss planning applications that are happening right next to them.”
He also questioned why specific figures for each measure were not set out in the council’s report on its Financial Recovery Plan.
The savings of £218,000 annually and £673,000 over a four year period do not appear in the report.
Cllr White said: “It is a concern that the financial implications of these changes are not detailed in the report, they weren’t itemised.”
Only cllr Raj Singh (Conservative, Kentwood) voted against the measures contained in the council’s financial recovery plan, as cllr White was unable to vote in person.
The changes come into force on Friday, November 1.
