MEMBERS of the Yorkshire Dales National Park planning committee decided to defer discussion of a report from auditors calling into question the conduct of its members.

It was agreed at a meeting of the planning committee on Tuesday that the report should be deferred to its next meeting when the contents could be considered in full.

The District Auditor has outlined serious criticisms about some members of the committee.

His report said some members of the planning committee had given inappropriate assistance to planning applicants by visiting them on site and drafting letters of appeal on their behalf.

It added: "We have serious concerns about aspects of probity in planning at the authority. If the national park authority is to be seen to make decisions fairly and on the basis of proper planning considerations then there is a need for the authority to strengthen its existing arrangements."

And referring to the way some members dealt with lobbying, the authority was warned it "faced a major risk of the impartiality of its members in decision-making being called into question".

"It is understood that some members have taken their advisory capacity to include visiting applicants on site and drafting letters of appeal on their behalf. Such involvement in planning matters is not appropriate and means members are not well placed to deflect allegations of bias."

The report stated that the authority's code of conduct for members was not applied on a consistent basis especially during site visits.

"Public speaking at site visits is not subject to the same restrictions as at committee meetings, with the result that invitees often speak at great length and on matters not necessarily material to the application. Moreover, members are reported to disperse on site and engage in dialogue with the applicant."

The auditor also expressed concerns that during the decision-making process there was a conflict between the national remit of members of the national park authority to conserve and enhance the environment and local concerns as representatives of their communities.

The report added: "This conflict leads some members to favour applications from the local community and in doing so to give less weight to the strict planning merits and planning policy considerations applicable."

A spokesman for the national park said: "The auditor's report does raise a number of issues that the members will be keen to consider in full and they will do so at the next full planning committee."