Agenda and minutes

To agree requests to speak from Councillors who are not Members of the Committee, in accordance with Committee Procedure 4.1.

RESOLVED:  To note that there were no requests to speak from Members who were not Members of the Committee.

To receive declarations of personal or prejudicial interests, arising from business to be transacted at this meeting, from:

(a)               all Members of the Committee, Sub Committee, Panel or Forum;

(b)               all other Members present in any part of the room or chamber.

RESOLVED:  To note that the following interests were declared:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 25 March 2009 be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 25 March 2009, be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

To receive questions (if any) from local residents/organisations under the provisions of Committee Procedure Rule 19 (Part 4B of the Constitution).

RESOLVED:  To note that no public questions were put, or petitions or deputations received at this meeting under the provisions of Committee Procedure Rules 19, 16 and 17 respectively.

To receive references from Council and any other Committees or Panels (if any).

RESOLVED:  To note that there were no references.

To confirm whether representations are to be received, under Committee Procedure Rule 18 (Part 4B of the Constitution), from objectors and applicants regarding planning applications on the agenda.

RESOLVED:  That, in accordance with the provisions of Committee Procedure Rule 17 (Part 4B of the Constitution), representations be received in respect of items 2/09 and 2/12 on the list of planning applications.

[Note:  Planning application 2/09 was subsequently deferred, and so the representations were not received].

Report of the Head of Planning - circulated separately.

Members are reminded that, in accordance with the Planning Protocol, where Councillors disagree with the advice of the Chief Planning Officer, it will be the Members' responsibility to clearly set out the reasons for refusal where the Officer recommendation is for grant.  The planning reasons for rejecting the Officer's advice must be clearly stated, whatever the recommendation and recorded in the minutes.  The Officer must be given the opportunity to explain the implications of the contrary decision.

RESOLVED:  That (1) in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government Act 1985, the following information be admitted to the agenda by reason of the special circumstances and grounds for urgency stated:

and;

(2)  authority be given to the Head of Planning to issue the decision notices in respect of the applications considered, as set out in the schedule to these minutes.

Report of the Head of Planning – for information.

The Committee received a report of the Head of Planning which listed those enforcement notices awaiting compliance.  The Chairman expressed concern at a backlog of enforcement notices still waiting to be resolved.  The Committee requested that an officer from the planning and legal departments respectively attend the meeting on the Planning Committee on 24 June 2009 to enable a full discussion of the relevant issues.

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

To arrange dates for Member site visits that have been agreed during the course of the meeting (if any).

The Committee noted that the membership of the Planning Committee would be established at the Annual Council meeting on 7 May 2009.  In light of this, the Committee expressed that it would be prudent to establish a date for the site visit after the membership had been agreed.

RESOLVED:  That the date of the relevant site visits be determined at the meeting of the Planning Committee on 13 May 2009.