Just to play devil's advocate......
A rich person has a lump of Green belt land,for which he requires building consent.
He "buys" the services of a disabled ex-forces member,to front an application.......the planners are unlikely to be able to make building conditional on the applicant's lifetime sole occupancy...even if they tried, what if constant attendance were needed? demolish it?-don't think so!....what when he / she dies? I, personally feel that an isolated pitch on the edge of the village is NOT the best site for Joe to reside (unless he marries/his parents succed his grandparents in occupancyof the main bungalow.....that's what he and his family want,he should get it.
as pointed out, they DO have discretionary powers....just some local jobsworth thought they'd flex their muscles (hope they are top of redundancy list)...shame the councillors didn't point out to Jobsworth that they were a PUBLIC SERVANT and should act accordingly. laws have exceptions, Brown is head of Gov't therefore head of lawmaking (presumably next to the Sovereign)
therefore he has the authority to grant an exception. matter COULD have been referred to, and voted by Parliament....less than 5 minutes to show our armed forces that their sacrifices ARE respected.