James, as you said "I've sat on enough planning committees to have seen bad recommendations from officers and bad use of delegated powers by officers", Am I not right in saying that it is the Councillors who make you have the power to accept or reject planning applications and a whole lot more besidese based on the recommendations made by planning officers. They do the baackground work, councillors listen to the pros and cons and vote on what they "believe" is the best outcome. As councillors, remember we have given you the power to represent us by voting you and your peers into office.