The Status of the Planning Committee

10.41.44am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 16th Jul 2009

• [Jul 16] Cllr Denise Carr writes: SENSITIVE planning applications often evoke passionate feelings and it is therefore vitally important that the arm of the Council which is the "Local Planning Authority" is completely independent from the Executive - and is seen to be - in determining planning applications.

It may not be widely understood, as most residents have little contact with planning, but the determination of applications is carried out by officers and those elected councillors who sit on the Planning Committee in strict accordance with national planning requirements and guidance; the local UDP (Unitary Development Plan) policies; and the agreed and emerging Local Development Framework.

In this context, the Planning Committee is quasi-judicial, and the councillors who sit on it must undergo training and must be, and be seen to be, independent and not to have made up their minds, or been involved with applicants or objectors, prior to the meeting of the Planning Committee to determine an application. Councillors who sit on, or who wish to address the Planning Committee, are bound by a special Code of Conduct in this regard. The best interests of applicants, objectors and the wider community are served by councillors following these requirements in spirit and in letter, so that planning is not abused or brought into disrepute by bringing party politics into the Planning Committee or the planning process.

Related Links:

• Local Development Framework

• Planning Committee

• Unitary Development Plan