Issue - meetings

To consider a revised version of the Planning Protocol.

The Sub-Committee considered a revised version of the Planning Protocol of Conduct.

At its previous meeting, the Sub-Committee had requested that amendments be made to the form and content of the Protocol.

The Sub-Committee had asked the Officers to prepare a revised version of the Protocol, addressing the issues raised by Members, and comprising a brief overview guide supported where appropriate by further detailed information and advice contained in a separate reference document.

A revised version of the Protocol had been circulated with the agenda. It comprised a three page guidance note with key principles set out in a bulleted list, supplemented by detailed supporting information.

As part of the process of considering the Protocol, reference had been made at the previous meeting to a guidance document, produced by a number of agencies, called “Positive Engagement, a guide for planning councillors”. The Sub-Committee had also requested, as background information, copies of the call-in protocol and site inspections protocol adopted by the Strategic Planning Board. The three documents had been circulated with the agenda.

The Sub-Committee proceeded to work through the revised Protocol and agreed a number of additional amendments to the text.

It was noted that the revised document included advice to Members on how to avoid predetermination, including a suggested form of wording which Members might wish to use in calling in an application.

Members raised the issue of Planning Officers giving advice to Members in the event that Members decide a planning application against the recommendations of the Officers. Members asked whether the Officers could provide reasons both for and against approving an application. This was something which would need to be raised with Planning Officers and the Planning Chairmen. Members also asked that the issue of Officer presentations at planning committee meetings be raised with the Chairmen.

During consideration of the Protocol, Members noted that there were no categories of planning application which were exempt from call-in to a planning committee by Members, although certain classes of application were subject to a specified timetable at the end of which consent would be deemed to have been given if the application had not otherwise been determined.

RESOLVED

That

(1)   the further amendments agreed by the Sub-Committee be incorporated into the revised Planning Protocol of Conduct;

(2)   any further comments on the Protocol by Members of the Sub-Committee be conveyed to Paul Mountford by 14^th February;

(3)   a revised version of the Protocol be submitted to the next meeting; and

(4)   the issue of Planning Officers providing assistance to Members, including reasons, in the event that a Planning Committee determines an application against the recommendations of Officers, and the issue of Officer presentations at planning committee meetings, be raised at the next meeting of the Planning Chairmen.