Agenda item

Report CSD21133

At its last meeting on 15 July 2021, the Standards Committee discussed the review undertaken by the Planning Advisory Service and the Council’s recently implemented Planning Protocol with the Chairman of the Development Control Committee.  At the conclusion of the discussion the Committee resolved that issues of probity of planning be further considered by the Standards Committee at its next meeting in December 2021.

The Chairman welcomed the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Development Control Committee and the Assistant Director for Planning to the meeting.

The Chairman of the Development Control Committee reported that she was pleased to confirm that all the recommendations made by the Standards Committee in July 2021, were on the agenda for the Development Control Committee on 11 January 2022, and were all recommended for approval.

One of the recommendations from the Planning Advisory Service (PAS) was that all Members involved in planning decision making should have basic training.  The Chairman of the Development Control Committee set out the scope of the training and noted that there was support amongst Members that any councillor sitting on planning committees must undertake basic training.  It was noted that training would take place early after the May 2022 elections.  The general view was that there would not be a Member of the Council who was not involved in planning one way or another, due to the nature of the role of local ward members.  Consequently, all Members of the Council would be strongly encouraged to engage with and undertake the planning training provided, however the training would be mandatory for members sitting on Planning Committees.

The Standards Committee noted that on 11 January 2022, the Development Control Committee would consider and vote on the 19 recommendations from the PAS and this would include the issue of training.  Members further noted that PAS recommendation 13 called for impartial substitutions at Planning meeting and once agreed, this would be added to the Local Planning Protocol with no more than two Members from one ward being permitted on a 9 member Plans Sub-Committee.  The Standards Committee noted that the 2 ward member restriction would also needed to be taken into consideration at the start of the municipal year when committee memberships were proposed and agreed.

The Vice-Chairman of the Development Control Committee highlighted that the Local Planning Protocol was a continuously evolving document and policies and procedures could be updated as learning occurred.  Members sitting on Planning Committees would also be required to formally confirm that they had read the Local Planning Protocol and would comply with all the provisions within.

The Standards Committee noted that once considered by the Development Control Committee on 11 January 2022, a report with recommendations for approval would be presented to Full Council in February 2022. 

The Chairman thanked the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Development Control Committee and the Assistant Director for their attendance at and participation in the meeting.

RESOLVED: That the Standards Committee endorse the recommendations of the Planning Advisory Service in respect of ethical standards.