DISGRUNTLED councillors will try to oust Basildon’s planning committee chairman after she took two major decisions in private.

Carole Morris sparked anger among campaigners by approving applications for hundreds of homes on developments in Dry Street and Ballards Walk.

Last month, the chairman took the decision to approve the final details for the first 181 homes of the 725-home Dry Street development using “delegated powers”, instead of holding a vote at a committee meeting.

Just weeks later, she took the same steps to approve a scheme for 135 homes on playing fields off Ballards Walk, Laindon.

Mrs Morris has dismissed a motion calling for her removal as politically motivated and insists she has done “absolutely nothing wrong”.

Geoff Williams, Lib Dem councillor for Nethermayne, has put forward a motion for Thursday’s full council meeting, expressing “no confidence” in Mrs Morris as chairman.

Mr Williams says he is “alarmed” by the use of delegated powers and asks for Mrs Morris to be removed from her role.

The motion also calls for all future planning application for ten properties or more to be brought before the committee.

Mrs Morris, Tory councillor for Wickford North, said: “Of course I have got concerns about the outcome, but it is a politically-motivated motion.

“I have done absolutely nothing wrong, because we consulted legal experts before taking the decision.”

Both planning applications had already received outline permission, stating the principle of the development was acceptable. But building work can only begin once a “reserved matters” application, detailing layout and roads, is approved.

Mrs Morris said: “With regards to Dry Street, it is obvious people wanted to stop the project, which is something they wouldn’t be able to do anyway, because that is not what the application is about.

“Before I made the decision, I asked the committee to let me know any concerns about the application, but they didn’t do so.

“How can I have any sympathy for people who say they have concerns but don’t raise them?”