Decision:
The Chair welcomed everyone to this virtual Planning Control Committee meeting that was being conducted with Members and Officers at various locations, communicating via audio/video and online and advised that there was the opportunity for the public and press to listen and view proceedings.
The Committee, Member and Scrutiny Officer gave advice regarding the following:
• Attendance;
• Virtual Meeting;
• Noise Interference;
• Rules of Debate;
• Voting.
The Chair, Councillor Terry Tyler, started the meeting proper.
Minutes:
Audio Recording – 27 Seconds
The Chair welcomed everyone to this virtual Planning Control Committee meeting that was being conducted with Members and Officers at various locations, communicating via audio/video and online and advised that there was the opportunity for the public and press to listen and view proceedings.
The Chair invited the Committee, Member and Scrutiny Officer to explain how proceedings would work.
The Committee, Member and Scrutiny Officer advised the following:
Attendance
A roll call was undertaken to confirm that the required Members, Officers and Registered Speakers were present and could hear and be heard.
If for any reason the meeting was not quorate an Officer interject the meeting and the meeting would adjourn immediately. Once the meeting was quorate the meeting would resume.
Only Members present during the entire debate for an item were entitled to vote. If a Member had been cut off during the debate and re-joined the meeting, then they would not be able to vote on that item.
Live Streaming
The meeting was being streamed live on the Council’s YouTube channel. If live streaming failed the meeting would adjourn. If the live stream could not be restored within a reasonable period then the remaining business would be considered at a time and date fixed by the Chair. If the Chair did not fix a date, the remaining business would be considered at the next ordinary meeting.
If technology failed for a member of the public who had attended to exercise their right to speak and was unable to do so, the Chair may decide to proceed to the next item of business to allow for connection to be re-established. If connection could not be restored within a reasonable period, the Chair may decide to conclude the remaining business, or consider the remaining business at a time and date fixed by the Chair. If the Chair did not fix a date, the remaining business would be considered at the next ordinary meeting.
Noise Interference
The Committee, Member and Scrutiny Officer asked all in attendance to ensure that electronic devices were muted.
Rules of Debate
If a Member wished to speak they should use the raise hand button and this would alert the host that they wished to speak. The host would inform the Chair of the names of the speakers, who should wait to be invited by the Chair to address the Planning Control Committee.
Members were reminded that the normal procedure rules in respect of debate and times to speak would apply.
If Officers needed to address the Planning Control Committee at any point during proceedings, they were requested to respectfully interject and await a response before addressing the Chair.
Voting
When satisfied that there had been sufficient debate the Chair would request that the relevant Planning Officer read out the recommendation that Members would be voting upon.
There would be three elements to a vote. Members who wished to vote ‘For’ the recommendation would be invited to use the raise hand button first. Members who wished to vote ‘Against’ the recommendation would be invited to use the raise hand button second. Members who wished to ‘Abstain’ would be invited to use the raise hand button last.
The clerk would confirm the names of Members voting at each stage. However, details of how Members voted would not be kept or minuted unless a Recorded Vote was requested or an individual requests that their vote be recorded.
The Committee, Member and Scrutiny Officer would clearly state the result of the vote and the Chair would proceed to the next agenda item.
In the event of a tied vote the Chair would have the casting vote.
The Chair, Councillor Terry Tyler, started the meeting proper.