Agenda and minutes

To note the attendance at this meeting of any duly appointed Reserve Members.

Reserve Members may attend meetings:-

(i)                 to take the place of an ordinary Member for whom they are a reserve;

(ii)               where the ordinary Member will be absent for the whole of the meeting; and

(iii)             the meeting notes at the start of the meeting at the item ‘Reserves’ that the Reserve Member is or will be attending as a reserve;

(iv)              if a Reserve Member whose intention to attend has been noted arrives after the commencement of the meeting, then that Reserve Member can only act as a Member from the start of the next item of business on the agenda after his/her arrival.

RESOLVED:  To note the attendance at this meeting of the following duly appointed Reserve Members:-

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

RESOLVED:  That no Members, who were not members of the Committee, had indicated that they wished to speak at the meeting.

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 interest was declared:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 14 January 2009 be taken as read and signed as a correct record. (to follow)

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 14 January 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 from Council or other Committees or Panels to be received at this meeting.

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 18 (Part 4B of the Constitution), representations be received in respect of items 2/02 and 5/01 on the list of planning applications.

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 Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985, the following item be admitted late to the agenda by virtue 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 attached to these minutes.

Report of the Head of Planning – for information.

The Committee received a report from the Head of Planning which listed those appeals being dealt with and those awaiting decision.

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).

RESOLVED:  To note that there were no Member site visits to be arranged.

Which cannot otherwise be dealt with.

Government Proposals with regard to Procedure for Public Hearings

In accordance with Committee Procedure Rule 9.1(ii), the Chairman had given notice of an item regarding the receipt of a letter from the Minister for Housing and Planning, the Rt Hon Margaret Beckett MP, in response to the Chairman’s letter sent on behalf of the Committee.

The Chairman read the contents of the letter to the Committee.  Members expressed disappointment that the Government had not conceded anything regarding the concerns raised in the Chairman’s letter to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government dated 23 September 2008 which the Committee had unanimously given her leave to write on their behalf.  It was noted that from April 2009, the Planning Inspectorate would have the authority to decide the form of enquiry and therefore could reject requests for a informal public hearing or public enquiry in favour of written representations.

RESOLVED:  That the contents of the letter be noted and a copy circulated to the Members in attendance at the meeting.