Issue - meetings

Matter for Decision

The Officer’s report considered the issues inherent in moving to a single planning committee dealing with development management and enforcement decisions in the City, reverting to the way decisions were made prior to 2003. The report set out advantages and disadvantages of this change. A transition period would be necessary in the implementation of this change; 1 October 2014 was suggested as the start of any new arrangements. There should be a review of the issues arising with the operation of any new arrangement after 6 months.

 

Decision of Executive Councillor for Planning Policy and Transport

Recommended to Council:

       i.          To rescind the delegation of powers to Area Committees to determine planning applications and enforcement matters set out in paragraph 11.3 of the terms of reference for Area Committees (section 11 of Part 3 of the Constitution) to come into effect from 1 October 2014.

     ii.          To delegate responsibility for determining those applications and enforcement matters to the Planning Committee with effect from 1 October 2014.

   iii.          To endorse the operating principles for the Planning Committee set out in paragraph 3.10 of the Officer’s report and adopting the approach set out in option 1 of the report.

   iv.          To delegate authority to the Heads of Corporate Strategy, Legal and Planning Services to make changes to the constitution, committee operating arrangements, publications, procedures and any other matters as necessary to secure the smooth implementation of this change, consulting with the Executive Councillor, Chair and Vice Chair and opposition spokes of Planning Committee as appropriate and necessary.

 

Reason for the Decision

As set out in the Officer’s report.

 

Any Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Not applicable.

 

Scrutiny Considerations

The Committee received a report from the Head of Planning Services.

 

The Committee made the following comments in response to the report:

 

Liberal Democrat Councillors

       i.          Took issue with details in the Officer’s report, and the justification for it.

     ii.          Were not in favour of the principle of changing consideration of planning applications from Area Committees to the Planning Committee.

   iii.          Ward Councillors were best placed to consider domestic applications as they knew their local areas.

   iv.          Councillors could act as advocates under the current Planning/Area Committee system.

    v.          Suggested more councillors could attend evening than day time meetings.

   vi.          Queried the impact of policy change on officer delegations.

 vii.          Referred to the Labour press release on rejuvenating Area Committees and suggested this was not the best way.

viii.          Asked for a cost/benefit analysis of the proposal to change consideration of planning applications.

 

Labour Councillors

       i.          Were in favour of the principle of changing consideration of planning applications from Area Committees to the Planning Committee.

     ii.          Suggested councillors would prefer to consider planning application during business hours, and would make better decisions if applications were not considered late at night.

   iii.          Queried if members of the public could be given guidance on how to present their case to committee (in a separate session) whilst Councillors were given training/briefings pre-10:00 am meeting start.

   iv.          The intention was to replace Area Committee planning application sessions with ward specific community items.

 

The Committee resolved by 4 votes to 3 with 1 abstention to endorse the recommendation.

 

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendation to adopt the approach set out in option 1 of the Officer’s report.

 

Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Executive Councillor (and any Dispensations Granted)

No conflicts of interest were declared by the Executive Councillor.