Issue - meetings

To review proposed amendments to the Planning Protocol adopted by the Council on 24^th February 2009 and make recommendations to Council.

The Committee considered a report on proposed amendments to the Planning Protocol adopted by the Council on 24^th February 2009 with a view to making recommendations to Council.

In August 2009 a meeting had been held between the Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen of the Strategic Planning Board and Planning Committees and relevant Planning Officers to review a number of issues arising out of the first three months of the operation of the Development Management Service for Cheshire East. This had included the operation of the Planning Protocol. At that meeting it had been noted that an updated version of the Local Government Association guidance document, “Probity in Planning”, had been published. Whilst the guidance did not require wholesale changes to the Protocol, it was felt that some further clarification could be incorporated within it. Additionally, there were a number of amendments/clarifications that Officers had identified for the Planning Protocol arising from its operation during the initial months of the new Council.

An amended Planning Protocol had now been produced and was attached to the report.

The amended Planning Protocol had been considered by the Strategic Planning Board at its meeting on 25^th September 2010 and the Board had resolved that the amended Protocol be commended to the Constitution Committee for inclusion in the Constitution subject to minor amendments to paragraph 8.4 and 4.5, and to any views expressed by the Standards Committee. The Standards Committee at its meeting on 27^th September 2010 had resolved that the revised Planning Protocol be commended to the Constitution Committee for approval without amendment, and that a review of the Public Speaking Protocol be undertaken to ensure consistency.

In considering this matter, some members of the Constitution Committee felt that the Protocol in its present form was too detailed and, in parts, overly prescriptive. It was suggested that the Protocol as a whole should be reviewed with a view to producing a shorter, more user-friendly guide.

RESOLVED

That

(1)   the Planning Protocol be not referred to Council for approval at this stage; and

(2)   a sub-committee be appointed, the size, proportionality and membership to be determined in consultation with the Chairman and Group Whips, to be charged with examining the Protocol and, if necessary, redrafting it as a short sensible guide with the assistance of the Officer who drafted the amendments.