The Department for Communities and Local Government has responded to representations for a call in of the Mountfield development. The Secretary of State has declined the application. The Department notes “The Secretary of State has decided, having had regard to this policy, not to call in this application. He is satisfied that the application should be determined at a local level,” somewhat ironically, given comments by some members of CCC’s planning committee at the 13 December meeting that the council’s hands were tied by national policy. The letter also notes “The Government remains committed to giving more power to councils and communities to make their own decisions on planning issues, and believe that planning decisions should be made at the local level wherever possible.”