Cheshire East's joint ruling Labour and Independent groups have clashed over plans to scrap the strategic planning board.

The proposal to reduce the council's planning committees from three to two was put forward in the budget in February as a cost-cutting measure.

But at Wednesday's meeting of the full council, Labour and the Independents were at loggerheads after Macclesfield councillor Brian Puddicombe (Lab) tabled an amendment for the matter to be deferred for more consultation.

This sparked a heated debate with Independent leader Craig Browne expressing his 'disappointment' and questioning whether Labour could be relied upon to make difficult decisions, and Labour's Joy Bratherton telling Cllr Browne: "You're not my dad, I don't care whether you're disappointed in me or not."

Labour, who were backed by the Conservatives in calling for the deferral, argued the saving would be 'miniscule'- £7,650 –  at a time when the council had a backlog of planning applications.

Cllr Puddicombe, who chairs strategic planning (SPB), said: "When the backlog is reduced, there could be a time, in the not too distant future, when moving to two planning committees is appropriate, but we would ask that councillors with experience in planning matters are formally consulted."

Knutsford councillor Stewart Gardiner (Con), who has 25 years' experience working as a town planner, backed the Labour amendment saying: "My main concern with the proposal to have major planning applications referred to northern and southern planning is that the council will open itself up to challenge on grounds of being inconsistent in its decision-making. This is highly likely to lead to developers either appealing a decision or for them seeking a judicial review, options which, if successful, are likely to result in significant costs being awarded against the council."

Cllr Liz Wardlaw (Odd Rode, Con) said: "I cannot believe that neither the chairs nor vice-chairs have been consulted prior to this making it to the table at council today."

A clearly annoyed Cllr Browne then expressed his 'disappointment' at the amendment and said Labour and the Independents had jointly agreed the savings in the MTFS (budget) a few months ago.

"With the financial challenges facing local government, this is not the time to go soft on making difficult decisions," said Cllr Browne.

He added: "As Independents, when we considered which political group to work with in forming a joint administration, we were mindful of the fact that the Conservative group did not vote for our MTFS and therefore might not be relied upon to support the cost-saving measures implicit therein. Sadly, it seems, that we must now question whether the Labour group can be relied upon to do that either."

Wilmslow councillor Mark Goldsmith (Ind) backed his group leader saying: "I'm struggling to understand how [SPB} hearing two applications in four months tackles the planning backlog."

But Crewe councillor Joy Bratherton was applauded by both Labour and the Tories when she said she refused to be 'lectured' by the Independent leader.

"I voted for the MTFS on the basis things within the MTFS would be, if necessary, further discussed when the time came," she said. "As chair of southern planning I have never been consulted over which committee was to disappear, I've never been asked about my workload as chair of that committee… The savings being quoted are miniscule."

The amendment was carried with Labour and the Tories voting together and the Independents voting against.

The full recommendations – which included incorporating the public rights of way sub-committee into highways committee – were approved by 37 votes to 31 with four abstentions.

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