Agenda item

To establish an Overview and Scrutiny Committee Working Group to review the Scheme of Public Participation at Planning Committee, to approve the proposed Terms of Reference for the Working Group and to name seven Members to serve on the Working Group.

87.1           Attention was drawn to the report of the Democratic Services Group Manager, circulated at Pages No. 123-127, which asked Members to establish an Overview and Scrutiny Committee Working Group to review the Scheme for Public Participation at Planning Committee; to approve the proposed Terms of Reference for the Working Group; and to name seven Members to serve on the Working Group.

87.2           The Democratic Services Group Manager advised that, at its meeting on 14 April 2015, the Council had resolved that a Scheme for Public Participation at Planning Committee be introduced for a one year trial period starting with the new term of the Council in May 2015 and it had therefore commenced with the Planning Committee in June.  As the one year trial period would shortly be coming to an end, it was necessary to undertake an assessment of how the scheme had worked since its introduction in order to inform the Council as to whether the scheme should continue and, if so, whether any amendments should be made.  It was proposed that an Overview and Scrutiny Working Group comprising seven Members be established to work with Officers to review the scheme and the proposed Terms of Reference for the review were attached at Appendix 1 to the report.  

87.3           She explained that it would be a fairly challenging programme as a report would need to be taken to the Council meeting on 17 May 2016.  The timetable for the review was included within the Terms of Reference and it was noted that the first two meetings would be used to obtain views from people who had used the scheme, including Parish/Town Councils and members of the public speaking in support or objection of an application, either via written representations or in person at the meetings.  At the third meeting, Members would review other schemes, identify best practice and undertake a comparison with the Council’s scheme. The final meeting would be to finalise the Working Group’s report which would be brought to the next meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for approval.  The report would then be taken to the Planning Committee to obtain its views before the Council meeting on 17 May 2016.

87.4           A Member questioned why the meetings had been set at those particular times and he was advised that a letter had already been sent out to users and administrators of the scheme inviting them to participate in the review so it had been necessary to pick the most suitable times for them to attend and to advise them accordingly.  The tight timetable had also played a part in dictating when the meetings could be held.  It was noted that the review would only deal with the Scheme for Public Participation at Planning Committee and not any other aspect of the planning process.

87.5           It was subsequently

RESOLVED          1.   That an Overview and Scrutiny Working Group be established to review the Scheme for Public Participation at Planning Committee.

2.   That the Terms of Reference for the Working Group be APPROVED as set out at Appendix 1 to the report.

3.   That the Membership of the Working Group be as follows:

Councillors: Mrs G F Blackwell, R D East, D T Foyle,                 Mrs M A Gore, T A Spencer, Mrs P E Stokes and                            P D Surman.