An inadequate system of property rights has led to "endemic" corruption over planning within UK councils, claimed Rohan Silva, a former senior policy adviser to David Cameron when he was prime minister. Silva said local councils had been given too much decision-making power, and with millions of pounds at stake, the "incentive for corruption among low-paid officials and councillors is overwhelming". The report also found that there were serious problems in how public money was spent on housing, including by councils.
An inadequate system of property rights has led to "endemic" corruption over planning within UK councils, claimed Rohan Silva, a former senior policy adviser to David Cameron when he was prime minister. Silva said local councils had been given too much decision-making power, and with millions of pounds at stake, the "incentive for corruption among low-paid officials and councillors is overwhelming". Silva also called for the UK to adopt a planning system akin to the US, where property owners have unrestricted building and development rights, within predetermined limits.