Plans to cut the number of letters sent to Birmingham residents about new planning applications in their area have been deferred following objection from councillors.

It is estimated that slashing the number of communications would help the city council save £27,000 as planning department bosses look to shed £1.3million from the budget.

But several councillors voiced concerns at a meeting of the authority’s planning committee yesterday

Vice chair Paula Smith (Lib Dem, Hall Green) said: “I would not be happy to reduce consultation with people. It’s the one thing that affects everybody’s lives.

“They should have the right to we told what’s going in their area.”

Under the proposals, put forward by committee chair Coun Peter Osborn (Cons, Weoley), letters would only be sent to residents within a 50-metre radius of a proposed development rather than 200 metres as is current policy.

Coun Keith Linnecor (Lib Dem, Oscott) said approving the plans could antagonise central government.

“The new government say they have an interest in people power,” he said.

“This flies in the face of what they want to do.”

Coun Osborn said his plan was borne out of public spending cuts prompted by the recession. The committee noted the recommendation to be discussed again in future.