Councillors look set to give up their powers to make planning decisions until the coronavirus emergency has subsided.

On Thursday, an extraordinary meeting will ask members of Anglesey Council’s planning committee to delegate their powers to paid officers until it’s deemed  safe to hold such public meetings again.

At present, local members can “call in” any planning applications in their own wards to the committee, with some applications deemed to have enough of an impact on communities that they can only be decided by the committee rather than officers.

The report that will be presented on Thursday confirms that the measures, if approved, will be in place until it’s decided that it is safe to once again hold council meetings.

“In light of the public health emergency caused by the coronavirus and anticipating the restrictions on holding public meetings, there will still be a need to maintain a planning service and to make decisions on planning matters,” it notes.

“(It is recommended) that this delegation remains in place whilst the restrictions on holding public meetings is in force, but that it shall automatically end once the advice of the Welsh Government allows meetings such as those of the Committee to take place.”

Despite the proposed measures, it is expected that the chair and vice-chair of the Planning Committee will be kept informed of any decisions made under this delegation and that a training session is arranged before the next meeting of the committee so that members and officers can re-familiarise themselves with procedures and relevant requirements.

On Monday, a meeting of Anglesey’s executive went ahead, despite some members sending apologies.

Those that attended were asked to spread out within the chamber to minimise social contact.

However, most meetings have already been cancelled including the scheduled planning committee gathering on April 1.