Issue - meetings

To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any disclosable pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests and for Members to declare if they have a pre-determination in respect of any item on the agenda.

In the interest of openness in respect of application 18/5544M, Councillor B Puddicombe declared that he attended Gawsworth Parish Council meetings as part of the area fell within his ward.  He had heard the application being discussed at a meeting of Gawsworth Parish Council, however had had not taken part in any discussions or pre determined the application.

In the interest of openness in respect of application 18/5544M, Councillor N Mannion declared that as the land in question was in his portfolio he had a conflict of interest and therefore would leave the room prior to consideration of the application.

In the interest of openness in respect of application 19/3831M, Councillor A Gregory declared that he had received email correspondence from Town Councillor J Newall who was speaking on the application and that Councillor J Newall was also a former business associate.  He had read the email but had made no comment.

In the interest of openness in respect of application 18/5544M, Councillor L Smetham declared that she was the ward Councillor.  She lived within the locality of the site but it was not considered to be close enough to affect her judgment.  She had been aware of this planning application for some time and, in her role as ward Councillor, she had attended a number of meetings and had also been involved with Gawsworth’s Neighbourhood Plan.  She had been in contact with individuals about different matters at different times.  She had not expressed any views and had not voted for or against proposals at any stage.  She had provided advice on the planning process or signposted people to the correct section to deal with their matter.  Her comments had been restricted to planning matters without expressing an opinion.  She had not voted either for or against any proposals.  She was attending the meeting with an open mind to balance the information and views that she heard today to reach a view on the application.

In the interest of openness in respect of application 18/5544M, Councillor S Holland declared that she had been contacted by a member of the Parish Council who was down on the list to speak at the meeting.  She had not discussed the application or pre determined it and had merely provided advice as to the processes which needed to be followed.

In the interest of openness in respect of application 19/3950M, Councillor T Dean declared one of the speakers Mr B Philips was known to him and that he worked with the company who had assisted with the Neighbourhood Plan for Knutsford.

In the interest of openness in respect of application 18/5544M, Councillor P Findlow declared that he knew Andy Frost the agent for the applicant speaking on the application.

It was noted that Members had received various correspondence in respect of all of the applications on the agenda.