Issue - meetings

That no dispensations be granted to Councillor H.J. McGuill as the nature of interest, as land owner was too significant.   As a member of the public, Councillor H.J. McGuill could apply to speak for 3 minutes at Planning Committee, declare her interest and then leave the meeting.

The Chair introduced item 4 on the Agenda which related to an application for dispensation by Councillor H.J. McGuill.

  The Head of Legal and Democratic Services advised that Councillor McGuill be allowed to state her case, receive advice and would then be requested to leave the room whilst the matter was discussed.

Councillor H.J. McGuill explained that she wished to be able to speak on behalf of her planning application at the Planning Committee meeting on 7 November 2012 and to be able to speak to officers about the application.  She explained that the application related to plans to build houses on her land and changes to her own home.  Councillor McGuill said that this would be the second time that her application had gone to Planning Committee, and felt that the first time, false information had been given to the Committee and she was unable to respond to this during the meeting.

The Head of Legal and Democratic Services asked if Councillor H.J. McGuill had a planning agent to speak on her behalf.  Councillor McGuill said that she did, but that he was unavailable to attend the Planning Committee on 7 November 2012 due to other commitments.

Councillor A. Woolley asked if the application could be deferred to the next Planning Committee so that the agent could attend.  The Head of Legal and Democratic Services said that deferral was not possible as the Council was obliged to determine this application as soon as possible and it was already on the agenda for the meeting.

The Head of Legal and Democratic Services advised that the planning agent could deal with officer enquiries, or Councillor H.J. McGuill could be granted dispensation to communicate in writing to officers, but not in person, for reasons of openness.  At Planning Committee, Councillor McGuill could apply to speak as a member of the public for the allocated 3 minutes.  If granted a dispensation, she could speak as a non voting member of the Council for 5 minutes.  There would be two members of the public allowed to speak at the Planning Committee about this application, 1 for the application and 1 against.

Councillor H.J. McGuill left the room the room so that the Committee could consider her request.

The Committee debated the matter and considered Councillor H.J. McGuill’s request.

Councillor H.J. McGuill was asked to return to the Committee room to hear the decision.

RESOLVED:-

That no dispensations be granted to Councillor H.J. McGuill as the nature of interest, as land owner was too significant.   As a member of the public, Councillor H.J. McGuill could apply to speak for 3 minutes at Planning Committee, declare her interest and then leave the meeting.