The Senior Planner introduced the report and outlined the changes made to the to the Duty to Cooperate (DtC) processes, as requested by the Committee during its 12 January 2021 meeting following its consideration of the DtC Protocol.

The Senior Planner explained that officer to officer meetings would be the first stage in conversing with Neighbouring Authorities, with escalation to Senior Officers and the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Committee as required. The discussions would be framed by the emerging Statement of Common Ground (SoCG), which included the matters on which there had been agreement and disagreement. If another Local Authority wished to bring their Statement of Common Ground before the Council had completed its own, then the same procedure in obtaining agreement from the Committee would be applied.   

It was reiterated that any urgent changes required to the SoCG after it had been agreed by the Committee would occur in consultation with the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Committee. The Chair and Vice-Chair stated that if any significant issues had arisen, the Committee would be informed.  

The Committee expressed support for the work undertaken by Officers.

RESOLVED: That

1.  The framework for future duty to cooperate processes, as summarised in paragraph 2.16 of the report with further detail outlined on meeting levels in paragraphs 2.7 to 2.10 of the report; sign-off procedure for minutes as detailed in paragraphs 2.11 to 2.12 and the sign-off procedures for Statements of Common Ground as detailed in paragraphs 2.13 to 2.15 of the report, be agreed.