Issue - meetings

Report DRR000000

As part of on-going service improvements being made to the Planning Service, this report set out the current position in regard to timescales and updated action.  Approval was sought for the new draft committee report template together with agreement to the proposed initial topic list for Member training.

The Chairman confirmed that the draft protocol would be presented to the Committee in January 2020.  The protocol for site visit procedures for committee members would be included within the Protocol.

In response to a question, the Assistant Director (Planning) reported that recently there had been an improvement in Members providing reasons for calling in decisions but that there were still some call ins received without planning reasons.

A Member emphasised that substitutions at committee should be based on a member’s ability to attend the meetings and where substitutions at meetings were required, the reasons for the substitution should be made clear.

Another Member highlighted that it would be much better if pictures relating to planning applications were projected on screen.  It was suggested that a move to Committee Room 1 would better facilitate this.  It was noted that where there was increased public interest in an application officers tended to know in advance and the meeting could be moved into the Council Chamber if necessary.

A Member also suggested that it would be helpful to monitor the outcome of appeals against the original officer recommendation.

In relation to the proposed changes to committee reports, Members noted that photos could be included in the body of committee reports to illustrate specific points.  A Member expressed concern about the amount of paper that could be wasted and suggested that Members should be referred to particular planning applications and site plans to be viewed in their iPads.

Referring to the draft Committee report, Councillor Fawthrop suggested that the report should refer to ‘conservation/area of special residential character (ASRC)’.

In response to a question from the Chairman, the Assistant Director (Planning) explained that work on training for Members was ongoing.  Officers had received feedback that a variety of delivery methods would be appreciated and officers were investigating options for face-to-face and online training with a session on Probity in Planning being included in the training offer.  The Assistant Director also confirmed that topics would be grouped together where possible to minimise the number sessions members were required to attend.

The Assistant Director (Planning) also confirmed that nearly all the Planners in the Department were Chartered and were consequently required to attend regular training for the purposes of continuous professional development.

RESOLVED that:-

1.  the timescales and updated actions set out in the report be noted;

2.  the new draft committee report template be agreed; and

3.  the topic list for Member training be agreed.