Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Borough Solicitor which explains the constitutional arrangements for Planning Governance approved by Council; seeks to appoint members to Northern and Southern Planning Committees, and discusses various practical working arrangements for the Committee. 

Members are also asked to note the arrangements made for planning training. 

The Strategic Planning Board considered the report of the Borough Solicitor which identified the constitutional arrangements (terms of reference, roles and responsibilities) that would apply to the Strategic Planning Board and the Northern and Southern Planning Committees; and outlined those planning functions which would be delegated to officers.  The Shadow Council had adopted the arrangements on 24^th February 2009; which would, in turn be adopted into the Constitution of Cheshire East Council on 2^nd April 2009.      

During consideration of the documents, it was noted that paragraph (g) of Appendix A was superfluous and that the word ‘approve’ in paragraph 7 of the main report should have been ‘determine’.  The Board also sought clarification on the revocation powers referred to in Appendix C.  In practice, revocations were rare as they carried cost consequences i.e. compensation and would be one of the matters for which officers would exercise their discretion to refer delegated matters up to the Committee.            

A list of nominations for the Northern and Southern Planning Committees was tabled at the meeting.  Members noted that, following             publication of the lists, a Councillor had declined his nomination on the Southern Planning Committee resulting in a vacancy.  The             membership of the Committees was to be reappointed at Council on 2nd April, at which time the Chairman and Vice Chairman would also be determined.             

As part of its role, the Strategic Planning Board had responsibility for the overview and control of the workload for each of the three Committees.  To establish a baseline, which would enable the determination of planning applications within statutory deadlines, a schedule of meetings was submitted to the Board for approval to Full Council; Members also being requested to consider the timings and locations for each of the Committees.            

RESOLVED: That -   

a)             Subject to the comments noted above, the constitutional arrangements for planning governance in respect of Cheshire East Council be noted;

b)            Nominations to the Northern Planning Committee comprise Councillors C Andrew, G Barton, T Beard, J Crockatt, H Davenport, M Hardy, T Jackson, W Livesley, A Moran, J Narroway, D Neilson, L Smetham, D Stockton, D Thompson and R West;      

c)            Nominations to the Southern Planning Committee comprise Councillors D Bebbington, B Dykes, D Flude, E Howell, S Furlong, L Gilbert, J Jones, S Jones, A Kolker, S McGory, G Merry, A Richardson, R Walker and J Weatherill with one vacancy; and     

d)         The Calendar of Meetings for the Strategic Planning Board, Northern and Southern Committees be approved and proposed for inclusion within the corporate calendar to be adopted by Full Council on 2^nd April; meetings to be held where possible as follows - Strategic Planning Board 2pm at Sandbach; Northern Committee 2pm in Macclesfield; Southern Committee 2pm in Crewe.