A NATIONAL park authority, warned over its planning procedures last year, is to vote on new policies next week.

The Yorkshire Dales National Park was shaken last April when a report by the district auditor criticised members for making some planning decisions with insufficient justification.

The report also alleged in-fighting between factions on the planning committee, irregularities in the decision-making process and a vulnerability to lobbying.

Some members were reported to have helped people bidding for planning permission by visiting them to help with the wording of appeals.

A stormy meeting a month later reluctantly agreed at least some of the comments were justified and a working group was set up to thrash out a new code of conduct.

Its findings will be tabled at a meeting at Bolton Abbey Village Hall on Tuesday.

Key recommendations include:

l A vote to be taken on whether the committee should make a site visit.

l A procedure to be followed at site visits, with the public given limited time to present their case.

l A ban on members expressing opinions on applications before all the facts have been presented during a meeting.

l A ban on members giving detailed advice to applicants.

Planning department head Peter Watson is urging the committee to accept the proposals.