Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Cllr Brent and Cllr Smyth.

There were no declarations.

To purpose of this report is seek approvals to amendments to the Scheme of Delegation to ensure the Planning Committee time is utilised efficiently to deal with important, strategic or especially contentious applications as quickly as possible.

RECOMMENDED

That the Cabinet Member approves

(i)             the reintroduction of amendments to paragraph 53 of the Scheme of Delegation to increase the scale threshold of applications that are reserved for Committee approval from 6 or more dwellings to 10 or more dwellings;

(ii)           the amendment of paragraph 57 of the Scheme of Delegation to raise the threshold for the number of adverse representations needed to require committee consideration from 1 (one) to 3 (three) and remove the requirement for objectors to also request to attend the meeting as a deputation; and

(iii)         the amendment of paragraph 50, 53, 54 and 57 of the Scheme of Delegation to include the exception for applications for certificates of lawfulness or applications for Prior Notifications or Approvals.

Ian Maguire, Assistant Director, Planning and Economic Growth,

introduced the report.

Councillors Scott Payter-Harris and Terry Norton gave their deputations.

These deputations raised concerns with the second recommendation to amend paragraph 57 of the Scheme of Delegation to raise the threshold for the number of adverse representations needed to require committee consideration from one to three and remove the requirement for objectors to also request to attend the meeting as a deputation.  This was felt to be a constitutional change that removed rights from residents and required further debate amongst members.

In light of the concerns raised, Cllr Mason agreed to refer the second recommendation in respect of amendments to paragraph 57 of the Scheme of Delegation to the Governance & Audit & Standards Committee and proceed only with the first recommendation to amend paragraph 53. 

Cllr Mason also agreed the third recommendation, albeit amended to remove references to the recommendation to amend paragraph 57

DECISION: The Cabinet member for Planning Policy & City DevelopmentAPPROVED:

(i)             the reintroduction of amendments to paragraph 53 of the Scheme of Delegation to increase the scale threshold of applications that are reserved for Committee approval from 6 or more dwellings to 10 or more dwellings; and

(ii)          the amendment of paragraph 53 of the Scheme of Delegation to include the exception for applications for certificates of lawfulness or applications for Prior Notifications or Approvals.