How are decisions made?
Over 80% of applications are decided by officers acting on behalf of the Council. Officers can only approve applications where no objections have been received and the application complies with the Councils planning policies.
Officers can only refuse applications where no representations in support have been received and the application fails to comply with the Councils planning policies. If an application does not meet the above criteria, then it has to be reported to the Development Control Board for a decision to be made.
The Development Control Board
The Board is made up of elected Councillors and meets monthly. The purpose of the Board is to consider planning applications and, where appropriate, enforcement action against breaches of planning control and related matters.
Each report on a planning application describes the application site, the proposed development, any relevant planning history, responses from those who have been consulted on the application, along with any other comments received and finally, a report on the main planning issues relevant to the application.
Each report contains a recommendation to the Board Members, generally of either refusal or approval. There is a narrative by the planning Officer of his/her consideration and the reason for refusal, or the conditions to be attached to an approval, are set out at the end of the report.
The main Agenda is printed some time before the Board meeting. The Update is a document which is available on the day of the meeting and circulated to Members just before the Board meeting. It provides further information relevant to applications to be considered at the meeting which has emerged since the Agenda was printed.
This could include further comments from interested parties, recent changes to the application and amendments to the recommendation. Copies are made available to the public.
Site meetings
Before dealing with individual applications, the Chairman generally asks the Board if any Members wish to request a site meeting for any item on the agenda. Site meetings enable Members to consider each proposal in more detail, to view the site and to hear from neighbours and other interested parties.
Any item for which a site meeting is agreed will not be discussed further at this meeting. Those who made representations on a planning application which has been deferred for a site meeting will be notified of the arrangements. Applications are usually reported to the next Board meeting for determination.
Public speaking
If an application is due to be considered by the Development Control Board, those who commented on the application, as well as the applicant and agent, have the right to register to speak at the meeting.
One speaker will be allowed to speak in favour of an application and one against. This will be operated on a “first come first served” basis. The Council will write to all relevant parties advising them of the public speaking arrangements.
In addition, the Council will advise all those who made comments on the application of the final decision once it is made.
