Decision details

It was RESOLVED that meetings of the Planning and Orders Committee be held virtually, on a monthly basis, as soon as it is practically possible, however, in the meantime :-

·           To delegate to the Council’s Chief Planning Officer the right to make all decisions which are reserved to the Committee under the Council’s Constitution, be that under paragraphs 3.4.3.1 to 3.4.3.16 (inclusive) or elsewhere;

·           That this delegation remain in force whilst the restrictions on holding public meetings are in place, but that it shall be reviewed every month by the Chief Planning Officer in consultation with Group Leaders (or their nominees) and Senior Officers so as to gauge its effectiveness;

·           In respect of those applications already called-in to the Committee by local members, no decision will be made under this delegation until those local members have been given a further, reasonable opportunity to make specific comments in writing in respect of that application before a certain date.  The Chief Planning Officer will take due regard to those comments before exercising his delegated power in respect of that application;

·           In lieu of public speaking at the Committee, the Chief Planning Officer will notify all those members of the public who have commented on an application which he proposes to determine under this delegation.  He will invite those members of the public to make further written representations by a specified date and will take due regard to those further written representations before exercising his delegated powers in respect of that application;

·           Where the Chief Planning Officer has the power to determine an application under this delegation he may, nevertheless and for whatever reason, choose not to exercise that power and, in that case, the application will have to be determined by the Committee.  The Chief Planning Officer will take into account the views of those mentioned in paragraph 2 above in reaching his decision under this paragraph;

·           That the delegation shall automatically fall into abeyance once a summons is published for the Committee to again meet in person in the Council Chamber but, if such a meeting is cancelled or does not take place, for whatever reason, this delegation shall be revived and acted upon by the Chief Planning Officer until the time that such a meeting is held;

·           That the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Committee are notified in a timely manner of any decisions made under this delegation;

·           That a training session is arranged before the next meeting of the Committee held in person in the Council Chamber so that Members and Officers can re-familiarise themselves with the Committee’s usual procedures and relevant requirements.