AUDITORS should look into relationships between top planning officers at City of York Council and developers, a committee of councillors has said.

Last week a governance committee called for answers on whether senior officials should be providing written recommendations for development companies that then bid for huge housebuilding schemes in the city.

The worries came to light after Osbaldwick councillor Mark Warters found emails between housebuilders Barratt and David Wilson Homes, and bosses at the planning department, but they have been dismissed as normal and appropriate behaviour by both the council and developers.

The developers asked staff to help them with marketing documents, and drafted statements for the officials to edit and put their names to, praising Barratt and David Wilson for their cooperation and good work with the council.

Cllr Warters told the committee he was worried to see developers comfortable enough with top staff to ask them for favours.

At the meeting, Cllr Jenny Brooks added: "I find it worrying if officers are putting their names to papers written by outside people, and I think that's something we should be looking at."

Both the council and the developers said the emails showed nothing more than normal, courteous business relationships, but another senior official said it was likely to be looked at in a wider review of staff declaring interest, gifts and hospitality.

Ian Floyd, director of customer and business support services said: "The council's audit and governance committee has requested that officers look into the allegations made by Cllr Warters, as part of the council's audit plan. At this stage, we have no evidence that suggests anything beyond cordial and appropriate business practices.”

Another senior planning boss Sarah Tanburn said one of those involved had left the council so she could not speak for them, but said it was not unusual for authorities to agree statements for developers they knew and respected to help in negotiations with landowners.

She added: "It is also good practice for senior council officers to regularly meet with developers - large and small - who are active in a city. Officers also meet regularly with community and amenity groups to understand their ambitions and concerns.”

A spokesperson from Barratt Developments said: "We actively engage with the City of York Council, other local authorities and local communities in the area to ensure that our proposed developments benefit the towns, cities and communities in which they are built. Our relationship is of an appropriate nature and in accordance with normal business practices."