A decision on whether a new ‘artisan marketplace’ can go ahead has been delayed after councillors challenged a decision to allow a cabinet member to speak.

One councillor argued the “irregular” decision could “bring the planning authority into disrepute” if they continued to discuss the plans.

South Cambridgeshire District Council’s planning committee had been due to make a decision on an application to change the use of a rural business park into an ‘artisan food hub’ at a meeting on June 14.

Before the meeting, council officers recommended the plans be approved.

The application submitted by Davison and Co, proposed to convert existing office space at The Avenue Business Park in Elsworth, into a mix of shops including a cafe, butchery, bakery, microbrewery, and a pasta producer.

Anthony Davison, the applicant, told councillors the farm had been bought by his great grandfather, and the new plans for part of the site would “take us back to growing healthy food for local people”.

However, the discussion was derailed after the chair Councillor Dr Martin Cahn allowed the cabinet member Councillor Peter McDonald to speak about the application.

Cllr McDonald said he would not be talking about planning matters, but said he wanted to offer “context from the economic development unit”.

He said a district council officer had provided independent advice for the committee, and said the unit supported the plans.

He said: “We feel the farmer is taking the logical step to go to the next level of diversification, which is to launch the food hub in the village.”

The decision to allow Cllr McDonald to speak to the committee was initially challenged by Councillor Heather Williams, who asked why a cabinet member was being allowed to speak in the part of the meeting reserved for the local councillors.

She also questioned why a cabinet member responsible for the economic department was presenting the information rather than an impartial officer and said it “never happens”.

Cllr Dr Richard Williams said he was sure Cllr McDonald had spoken to the committee in “good faith”, but said: “I am concerned about representations from the cabinet basically telling us that they politically support a particular application, which I believe has happened.”

Councillors also highlighted that the committee report said Cllr McDonald personally supported the application.

Cllr McDonald said he had not said anything other than the independent advice that came from officers.

The legal officer said the economic department being referenced by Cllr McDonald is not a consultee on the application. She said her understanding was that Cllr McDonald “came to represent the comments made by the economic unit and not as a political statement”.

Cllr Cahn said he had made his decision to allow Cllr McDonald to speak based on the advice of officers.

Councillor Judith Rippeth said she was “quite cross” by what had happened and proposed that the application should be deferred.

Cllr Williams said she supported this and said the decision to allow Cllr McDonald to speak was “irregular” and that it “undermined” the planning process, and could “bring the planning authority into disrepute”.

Councillor Peter Fane said he did not believe the decision needed to be deferred. He said there had been an economic assessment and it had been decided that it was “important” for the councillors to see this.

Seven councillors voted in favour of deferring the decision, with three voting against. The application is expected to return to the committee for a decision at a later date.