DISTRICT councillors have decided against turning two planning committees into a single body.

Tory council leader David Chambers proposed unifying the northern and southern area planning committees at a meeting on Tuesday, November 28.

However Conservative councillors rebelled against their leader and defeated the plans, with one long-serving member voting against his party for the first time in 20 years.

The proposed changes would have limited the number of members on the new committee.

Conservative councillor Paul Cumming said: "I don't want to be a class-two councillor.

"It therefore pains me to say that after 20 years on this council I shall be voting against my group.

"One of my main tasks as a ward councillor relates to planning issues. It affects a big part of my work. Where is the consultation?"

Mr Cummings said his ward expected him to be knowledgeable about planning issues and to represent their views.

He added that his ward wants him to be able to do more than just speak at planning committee meetings.

Cllr Tom Wells praised the 'courage' of the Tory rebels and said he hoped there would not be any reprisals.

Leader David Chambers argued that sitting on a planning committee was seen as a right.

He proposed merging the two committees and cutting the number of planning members from 38 to 22.

He said: "As leader of this council - not just the Conservative group - I will only promote a governance change if I firmly believe it to be in the best interest of those we serve."

Cllr Chambers said Malvern was the only district council in Worcestershire that had two planning committees, with all councillors sitting on one of them.

He added that combining the two bodies would lead to savings and improve the reputation of the council.

21 councillors, including seven Tories, voted against changing the current planning structure, while 14 voted in favour of the plans and one abstained.