Agenda item

Consideration was given to a report regarding procedures for public speaking, site visits and call-in withdrawal, following the Action Plan arising from the Planning Peer Review.  The following observations / comments were made:

Public speaking, or Direct Representation to Planning Committee, arrangements

a)      Should all live applications that come before the Planning Committee be subject to the right to request to speak ? – The existing policy was confirmed by the Committee  as appropriate–  if following an initial determination of an application (by the Committee) it comes back to the Committee, there is no opportunity provided to objectors or supporters to address the Planning Committee

b)      Should public speaking be invited when subsequent to a grant of permission, an informal request say to reconsider Section 106 requirements is considered by the Committee ?–  The existing policy of not providing such an opportunity was confirmed by Committee

c)       Should Parish and Town Councils be able to address the Planning Committee in their own right – The  existing  policy of not providing such an opportunity was confirmed by the Committee

d)      Should County Councillors have the right to address the Planning Committee – the Committee considered that the policy did not provide this right, and agreed that for the avoidance of any doubt the policy should be clarified to make the position even clearer, by referring to “Borough Councillors for the ward where the application has been made”

e)      Should public speaking be allowed when the Borough Council is only a consultee? – The Committee confirmed  that no public speaking should be permitted in such circumstances, and that revised policy should expressly state this

f)        Does it matter if two speakers “share” a  speaking slot ? – The committee considered that it does not matter

g)       If the number of speakers increases, beyond 3, should there be a related reduction in the length of time each is permitted to speak ?  - The Committee  did not agree to such a proposal

h)      The current arrangement does not permit Members of the Committee to ask questions of any of the speakers. Is there a wish to change this? – The Committee did not agree to such a change

Site visit procedures and voting on applications which have been the subject of a site visit protocol

a)      The Committee agreed to the proposal that the site visit protocol be amended to indicate that Parish Councils are to be invited to send an observer to any site visit called in their area

b)      The Committee agreed to the proposal that site visit protocol be amended to indicate that local members who are not on the Planning  Committee should be informed of site visits in their area and invited to attend as observers

c)       The Committee agreed (upon a vote ( 6 for / 4 against) that  when an application subject to  a site visit is brought to the Planning Committee for determination Members who did not attend the site visit shall neither  be eligible to take part in the debate concerning the item’s determination  nor shall they be eligible  to vote upon that determination

d)      The Committee did not agree that only those members who stay for the full duration of a site visit are eligible to take part in the debate concerning the item’s determination  and to vote upon the application, although they recognised the principle that all members making a decision should have the same information as would be obtained during the duration of a site visit.

Withdrawal from the planning committee of “called in” applications

a)      The Committee agreed that the policy be amended to  allow for officers to send  by email the  officer recommendation and the  invitation  to withdraw the call in

Resolved:                         (i)       That officers draw up in consultation with

the Chairman, revised procedures taking into account the various changes recommended above and  that when an application subject to  a site visit is brought to the Planning Committee for determination Members who did not attend the site visit shall neither  be eligible to take part in the debate concerning the item’s determination  nor shall they be eligible  to vote upon that determination

(ii)       That officers submit a report in a year’s time to the Planning Committee reviewing the implementation of the changes agreed at this meeting