Issue - meetings

RESOLVED: That the proposals set out in Paragraphs 3.1-3.8 of Report CSD24037 and the related changes in the appended Local Planning Protocol and Scheme of Delegation be approved and that Council be recommended to approve them.

Report CSD24037

The Committee considered a report setting out changes proposed as part of a new annual review of the Local Planning Protocol and the Scheme of Delegation to Officers related to the Development Control Committee.

In addition to the changes set out in the report, the Chairman proposed that Paragraph 1A.2 of the Local Planning Protocol be amended as set out below and this was supported by the Committee:

“Substitute Members at planning committee meetings should be impartial and

no more than two Members sitting on a committee should be representing any

particular ward at any time. This does not include visiting Members who cannot vote.  For the avoidance of doubt, the fact that a Member has called in an application to committee which appears on the agenda of a planning committee meeting shall not by itself preclude such a Member from serving as a substitute Member of that planning committee meeting or from fully participating in the meeting on the same terms as ordinary Members of that Committee.”

A Member suggested that Section 9 of the Local Planning Protocol also be amended to state that due weight should be given to Members’ local knowledge, and this was supported by the Committee.  Another Member queried the proposal to limit the representations of Visiting Councillors to a three-minute time period in line with the time allocated to members of the public.  Following discussion, the Committee supported the introduction of a five-minute time period for Visiting Councillors and agreed that the Committee should have the opportunity to ask questions of Visiting Councillors.

In considering the proposed changes to the Scheme of Delegation, the Assistant Director: Planning advised that a Member had submitted alternate wording for Section 16.5(b)(i) but that it was not recommended to accept this as it did not include every change requested by Members and the Committee supported this approach.  Another Member asked that the readability of Section 16.5(b)(i) be reviewed to ensure it was accessible and this would be taken forward after the meeting with all proposed changes to be provided to the Committee via e-mail circulation.

RESOLVED: That:

1)  The proposals set out in Paragraphs 3.1-3.8 of Report CSD24037 and the related changes in the appended Local Planning Protocol, Scheme of Delegation, Addendum and further changes as set out above be approved; and,

2)  Council be recommended to approve the proposed changes to the Local Planning Protocol and Scheme of Delegation.