COUNCILLORS have complained that a motion passed by Dudley Council at their meeting last night (November 30) was unnecessary after the same issue was agreed upon last year.

Conservative Councillor Simon Phipps asked the council to recognise the status of 'assets of community value' (ACV) as a material factor in future planning applications.

The ACV status has been widely used across the country since its introduction by the Government in 2012 to add value to pubs under threat of closure.

However, the borough’s UKIP leader Councillor Paul Brothwood claims the Conservative’s recent action was a “waste of time” as his party’s motion was passed on December 1 2014.

The previous motion is currently under consultation by the council, with a decision set to be made by cabinet in 2016.

Cllr Brothwood added: “This seems to be more of a publicity stunt rather than adding real value to our treasured pubs which are under threat.

“UKIP took the initiative last year and we are pleased to see the council implementing our ideas and ensuring the planning process recognises how much value pubs provide in the community.”

Councillor Phipps hit back at Cllr Brothwood, saying: “I proposed this motion to speed up what needs to be done by the council; UKIP’s proposal last year was sketchy and not detailed enough.

“We have lost many pubs and other assets of community value while the council has been out consulting.

“There has already been a long consultation process, and this is why my motion went forward, because something needs to be done now.

“We need to protect our pubs and to do that we need to give our community a material option. We have already waited a year since the previous motion; we cannot wait another year.”

UKIP Councillor Paul Bradley claimed the Conservative councillors have “missed the updates from council officers” on the issue.

He said: “UKIP’s pub motion called for an immediate review of polices, planning legislation and guidance concerning the change of use of public houses. It was a detailed motion that highlighted the importance of pubs within our community.

“The Tories seem to have missed the updates from council officers on this issue and we suggest they look at the cabinet papers and consultation process.

“The proposed policy on assets of community has now finished its six week consultation and will be at cabinet next week. Therefore, we see no need for this particular motion.”

Tory Councillor Mike Wood believes the council should have already altered their planning application policy after the status was agreed by the Government.

The Dudley South MP said: “It has been more than three years since assets of community value were brought into effect.

“We shouldn’t be consulting about this now; it should already be in place.

“We have seen a number of our community assets close within the last three years, so we can’t wait another year for this to be in place, let alone another three years.”

The motion was passed unanimously by the council.