Issue - meetings

To update the draft Planning Code of Practice.

The Committee received a report detailing the updated draft Planning Code of Practice.

The Committee received a verbal introduction from the Chief Legal Officer.

The following maters were raised by the Committee:

a)            3.6 Membership of Lobby Groups: Following a question from a Member, the Officer confirmed that the ‘struck-through’ sentence in section 3.6 will be removed before the circulation of the updated draft Code.

b)            6.6 Site visits: Members noted the wording of the section of the report regarding site visits, and spoke about whether this may be made clearer. The Officer confirmed that they would delete paragraph 6.6 in its entirety, and add in a new paragraph providing more clarity that if a site visit has been arranged and a particular Member did not attend, that Member may not propose to defer the Application solely because they wanted to view the site.

c)            8.4 Ward Members: Following a question from a Member, the Officer agreed to amend paragraph 8.4 to make it clear those Ward Members who are required to attend and address a Committee Meeting. .

Following consideration, it was resolved that the Committee:

(1)      Considered the amended draft Planning Code of Practice;

(2)      Approved the circulation of the amended draft Planning Code of Practice with regard to the changes suggested in this Committee to all Members of Council for comment;

(3)      Agreed to delegate to the Chief Legal Officer following consultation with the Committee’s Chair and Vice Chair the approval of any necessary changes to the draft Planning Code of Practice following Member comments;

(4)      Agreed to recommend to Council the adoption of the approved Planning Code of Practice;

(5)      Agreed to note that the draft Planning Code of Practice may be bought back to Standards Committee before its recommendation to Council.