Issue - meetings

(a)       That the Planning Code of Practice is fit for purpose regarding the advice relating to the Members’ Code of Conduct and the Protocol on Officer/ Member relations, subject to the proposed amendment referred to in paragraph 1.05 of the report and the additional changes listed above; and

(b)       That the Planning Code of Practice be reported to the Council’s Constitution & Democratic Services Committee with advice from this Committee that it be amended in accordance with recommendation 1 above.

The Deputy Monitoring Officer presented a report to update the Planning Code of Practice as part of the rolling review of the Council’s Constitution.  He suggested that paragraph 4.7 be inserted to give clearer guidance on the position of Executive Members serving on the Planning Committee.

The following additional changes were agreed to improve understanding and consistency of the document:

·         To change the word ‘should’ to ‘must’ throughout the document.

·         Paragraph 4.7 to refer to ‘Senior Officer of Legal & Democratic Services’.

·         The last sentence of paragraph 5.1 to read ‘Officers should be made aware of…’

·         The last sentence of paragraph 5.4 to read ‘the Member(s) for that ward is (are) entitled…’

·         Further clarification needed to reference in paragraph 5.5 to ‘that Member must stand down…’

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the Planning Code of Practice is fit for purpose regarding the advice relating to the Members’ Code of Conduct and the Protocol on Officer/ Member relations, subject to the proposed amendment referred to in paragraph 1.05 of the report and the additional changes listed above; and

(b)       That the Planning Code of Practice be reported to the Council’s Constitution & Democratic Services Committee with advice from this Committee that it be amended in accordance with recommendation 1 above.