Agenda item

The Council is asked to consider the recommended change to the Planning Committee’s Public Speaking Scheme put forward by that Committee.

Council considered the Planning Committee’s recommendation to re-arrange the order of speakers in that Committee’s Public Speaking Scheme in order to ensure that the applicant (or their agent or their representative) spoke first after the Officer presentation of the planning application at the Planning Committee’s meeting.

It was reported that, at its meeting held on 17 February 2021, the Planning Committee, in response to a request made by the Review of the Constitution Portfolio Holder Working Party (CRWP), had discussed the order of speakers within the Public Speaking Scheme for the Planning Committee and had considered whether it should be changed, for example, in order to allow the relevant Ward Member(s) to speak last (rather than the applicant/agent as at the present time).

The Planning Committee’s decision on this matter at its meeting held on 17 February 2021 had been as follows:-

“RESOLVED that the Planning Committee agrees to its Public Speaking Scheme being revised to re-arrange the order of speakers so that the applicant (or their agent or their representative) speaks first after the Officer presentation of the planning application at the Planning Committee’s meeting and are then followed by:-

 One member of the public who wishes to speak in favour of the application;

 One member of the public who wishes to speak against the application;

 A representative of the relevant Parish/Town Council for the application site;

 All District Councillors for the Ward in which the application site is situated.

For the avoidance of any doubt the Committee confirms that the rights of members of the Executive under the Scheme remain unchanged. In addition, the Committee will undertake a review after six months’ operation of the amended Public Speaking Scheme (Planning Committee).

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL that the Planning Committee’s Public Speaking Scheme be amended so that the applicant (or their agent or their representative) speaks first after the Officer presentation of the planning application at the Planning Committee’s meeting.”

Members were aware that Council Procedure Rule (CPR) 40 (which related to the public speaking schemes operated by the Planning Committee and the Planning Policy & Local Plan Committee) currently stated (following an amendment Council had approved in July 2020):-      

“The schemes shall be in such a form as the Full Council determines having considered a recommendation from the relevant Committee.”

Therefore any amendment to the Public Speaking Scheme proposed by the Planning Committee had to be submitted to Full Council for its formal adoption.

The Monitoring Officer’s Report and accompanying Appendices which had been considered by the Planning Committee at its meeting held on 17 February 2021 were attached as Appendices to item A.5 of the Report of the Monitoring Officer (and as set out within pages 153 to 234 of the Council Book).

Councillors White, Bray, G V Guglielmi and Scottaddressed the Council during the debate on this item.

It was moved by Councillor White, seconded by Councillor Bray and:-

RESOLVED that –

(a)    the Planning Committee’s Public Speaking Scheme be amended so that the applicant (or their agent or their representative) speaks first after the Officer presentation of the planning application at the Planning Committee’s meeting;

(b)    this change comes into effect on 28th April 2021 i.e. the day after the Annual Meeting of the Council (along with the changes to the Council’s Constitution that were approved earlier in the meeting under Minute 103 above); and

(c)    Council notes that a review will be undertaken by the Planning Committee after six months’ operation of the amended Public Speaking Scheme (Planning Committee).