Agenda item

To receive any requests for dispensations.

That Councillor Christine Jones be granted dispensation under paragraphs (d) and (f) of the Standards Committee (Grant of Dispensations) (Wales) Regulations 2001 to speak for five minutes as local Member at Planning Committee on planning application 057808, or any application which, in the opinion of the Monitoring Officer, is similar.  Councillor Jones is to leave the meeting after speaking, before the application is debated and voted on.  The dispensation to be granted for 12 months, ceasing on 8 January 2019.

The Committee was asked to consider a request for dispensation submitted by County Councillor Christine Jones who wished to speak at Planning Committee on application number 057808 which related to the erection of six dwellings.  As a member of the Planning Committee, she had declared a personal and prejudicial interest due to the application site being located to the rear of her home.  The application for approval of reserved matters would usually be dealt with through Delegated Powers given to the Chief Officer, however the strength of public views on the application meant that it may require consideration by the Planning Committee.

The Deputy Monitoring Officer explained that in such cases, Members were advised to ask another Member of the Planning Committee to act as ward Member on their behalf and that Councillor Ian Dunbar had been asked in this instance.  Councillor Jones would be entitled to speak for three minutes (the same as members of the public) but was seeking dispensation for five minutes which was the same as Committee Members.  The Deputy Monitoring Officer had advised Councillor Jones to apply to speak for the additional two minutes which would allow sufficient time and was in line with similar requests previously granted to other Members.

It was explained that the planning application had previously received outline approval.  At that stage, Councillor Jones had requested to speak at Planning Committee for five minutes and to make written and oral communications to officers on the matter.  However, on 8 December 2014, the Standards Committee had decided to grant dispensation to speak only for three minutes which was felt to be sufficient.  The request for dispensation to communicate with officers no longer applied as this was now permitted under the Code of Conduct.

Councillor Arnold Woolley referred to the importance of consistency in decision-making on dispensation requests.

Following a query by Mr. Rob Dewey, it was clarified that the land - which was not in Councillor Jones’ ownership - was to the rear of her property.  Mr. Dewey expressed concerns about granting dispensation, given the proximity of the application site and indicated his intention to abstain from the vote.

Mrs. Julia Hughes suggested comparison with other successful requests to establish any precedent on proximity to the application site.  Officers explained that this should not be a factor in decision-making as dispensation had previously been granted to Members where they owned the application site in question.  The Committee could be guided by precedents but must consider each request on its own merits.  In response to further comments, it was explained that in Flintshire, it was the choice of Members seeking dispensation whether they wished to attend the meeting to aid the debate.

Following discussion, Mr. Ken Molyneux spoke in support of granting dispensation for Councillor Jones to speak for five minutes at Planning Committee on the matter before leaving the room.  On being put to the vote, this was agreed.

The Monitoring Officer clarified that the dispensation applied for 12 months and would include matters that he considered similar to application 057808.

RESOLVED:

That Councillor Christine Jones be granted dispensation under paragraphs (d) and (f) of the Standards Committee (Grant of Dispensations) (Wales) Regulations 2001 to speak for five minutes as local Member at Planning Committee on planning application 057808, or any application which, in the opinion of the Monitoring Officer, is similar.  Councillor Jones is to leave the meeting after speaking, before the application is debated and voted on.  The dispensation to be granted for 12 months, ceasing on 8 January 2019.