Issue - meetings

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Policy, Communications and Governance relating to the proposed establishment of a Member Working Group to review the arrangements for managing risk in relation to Planning Committee decisions, including the planning referral process.

Councillors English and Springett addressed the meeting in support of the proposed review.

Members concurred that there was a need to provide a check and balance mechanism in respect of Planning Committee decisions, and that the current arrangements for managing the risks should be reviewed, including the role of the Planning Referrals Committee having regard to the nature of its business and the pressure on Members.

The Committee agreed that a Working Group should be appointed to review the arrangements for managing risk in relation to Planning Committee decisions, including the planning referral process, and that the membership of the Group should comprise all Members of the Democracy Committee.  The terms of reference of the Group should be extended to consider options for and/or improvements to the current arrangements and any other ways to manage and reduce risk in relation to Planning Committee decisions.  The findings and recommendations of the Working Group should be reported back to the Democracy Committee in December 2017.

RESOLVED:

1.  That a Working Group comprising all Members of the Democracy Committee be appointed to review the arrangements for managing risk in relation to Planning Committee decisions, including the planning referral process.

2.  That the terms of reference of the Working Group be as follows:

  To consider how the Council can provide a check and balance for Planning Committee decisions and reduce the financial and legal risk for the Council giving consideration to:

(a)  Other Councils’ arrangements and models;

(b)  Options for and/or improvements to the current arrangements; and

(c)  Any other ways to manage and reduce risk in relation to Planning Committee decisions.

3.  That the findings and recommendations of the Working Group should be reported back to the Democracy Committee in December 2017.