Agenda and minutes

No declarations were reported at the meeting.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 18th August, 2020 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

RESOLVED that upon consideration of a Schedule of Planning and Other Applications received, together with the recommendations in respect thereof, the recommendations be approved in accordance with Schedule and marked Appendix ‘A’.

RESOLVED that in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 18.11(f), the meeting stand adjourned at 3.30 pm to be reconvened on this day at

3.35 pm.

The meeting reconvened at 3.35 pm.

The Committee received a report seeking agreement and adoption of the proposed Planning Committee Protocol.

Roy Sykes, Head of Planning reported that the purpose of the protocol is to aid Members, Officers, Parish Councils’ residents and applicants/agents by having an up to date, clear and transparent document on how this important part of the planning process is carried out.

Members were advised, that the protocol responds positively to the ‘Planning Committee Peer Review’ and the peer team used their extensive experience and knowledge of local government and good constitutional governance in order to put forward their suggestions for improvement. It was noted that the key findings of the report had highlighted a number of potential improvements, which were contained within paragraph 3 of the report.

It was also noted that adoption and implementation of the protocol will mean that the final outstanding actions from the Peer Review recommendations will have been addressed and completed.

Details regarding the purpose of the protocol, what the aspects of the protocol were, consultation undertaken and written feedback from Members were contained within paragraphs 6-10 of the report.

It was reported that the Protocol updates, consolidates and will ultimately supercede the Planning Committee guidance notes referred to in the report, and in so doing provide one easily referable document. By adhering to the Protocol all those involved in the Planning Committee process should not have any doubt about how the Committee meeting will be conducted and how the Protocol will be applied throughout the decision making process. In turn, this should reduce the risk of judicial review or complaints about maladministration and injustice to the Local Government Ombudsman, representing good constitutional governance.

Following the introduction of the report, a debate took place on the protocol where members expressed their views and concerns.

It was subsequently MOVED by the Chair, Councillor Susan Durant and SECONDED by Councillor Iris Beech to defer this to a separate meeting for Members and Officers to go through in more detail.

A vote was taken on the proposal made by the Chair Councillor Susan Durant which was declared as follows:-

For                  -           10

Against          -           0

Abstain          -           0

On being put to the vote, the proposal made by the Chair, Councillor Susan Durant and seconded by Councillor Iris Beech, was CARRIED.

            RESOLVED that the report be deferred to a separate meeting for     Members and Officers to go through in more detail.

RESOLVED that in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 33.1, the Committee, having sat continuously for 3 hours, continue to consider the remaining items of business on the agenda.

Discussion took place in relation to the appeal and costs awarded against the Council in relation to Application No 19/02264/FULM detailed in the report.

RESOLVED that the following decisions of the Secretary of State and/or his inspector, in respect of the undermentioned Planning Appeals against the decision of the Council, be noted:-

Part 1 https://youtu.be/zjIsJbVOjkA

Part 2 https://youtu.be/Ll3cl4Vntus