Issue - meetings

(a)       That the alterations to the Planning Code of Practice as identified in tracked changes in the appendix be approved; and

(b)       That after the wording in section 8.1 ‘adjoining ward Member will be invited to attend’, that the following wording be added ‘when the application significantly affects the neighbouring Members ward’.

The Chief Officer (Governance) introduced the report and explained that in April 2021 Council updated the Protocol for Meeting Contractors as part of the review of the Council’s Constitution.  The parts of the Protocol relating to dealings with contractors/developers and other third parties who may be bidding for, or seeking a contract with the Council, were amended.  Council resolved that the parts of the Protocol dealing with contact with developers be moved to the Planning Code of Practice (PCoP) to avoid duplication.

The Head of Legal Services explained that it resolved that parts of the Protocol for Meetings with Contractors that provided advice in respect of Developers should be contained in the PCoP and that the PCoP updated accordingly.

At the Council meeting in April 2021, which approved the updated Protocol, Members also requested that advice be added to the PCoP around the pre-application consultation process.

The Planning Strategy Group (PSG) considered the above proposed changes and a number of additional alterations to the PCoP were requested that they felt would be of assistance to Members involved in the planning process.

On 5^th July 2021 the Standards Committee proposed some further additional amendments.  The Constitution and Democratic Services Committee considered the proposed amended PCoP on 30^th September 2021 and approved the proposed amended PCoP subject to some further alterations.

Councillor Bithell suggested on 8.1 – pre-application consultations, after the wording ‘adjoining ward Member will be invited to attend’, that the following wording be added ‘when the application significantly affects the neighbouring Members ward’.  The Head of Legal Services confirmed that the suggestion was consistent with the rest of the document.  In response to a question from Councillor Peers, the Head of Legal Services explained that the decision on that would happen organically as part of the process.

In response to a question from Councillor Hardcastle, the Head of Legal Services explained that section 9.3.5 related to site visits and brief notes being made on any points raised.

The recommendation in the report was moved by Councillor Phillips and seconded by Councillor Bithell.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the alterations to the Planning Code of Practice as identified in tracked changes in the appendix be approved; and

(b)       That after the wording in section 8.1 ‘adjoining ward Member will be invited to attend’, that the following wording be added ‘when the application significantly affects the neighbouring Members ward’.