RESOLVED:
(1) That Members of the Committee be requested to email any suggested amendments to the Legal Regulatory Team Manager;
(2) That, prior to consideration by Council, the Legal Regulatory Team Manager be requested to make amendments as suggested in consultation with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Standards Committee and the Independent Person;
(3) That, prior to consideration by Council, the Legal Regulatory Team Manager be requested to amend the first Paragraph on page 23 to read words to the effect:
“Don’t agree to any formal meeting with applicants, developers or groups of objectors if you can avoid it. You may act as a Ward advocate, however where you have acted as such, then you must not sit on, or be a substitute for that item at the Committee meeting. Where you feel that a formal meeting would be useful to clarify issues, you only arrange that meeting through the Development and Conservation Manager if she/ he is able to organise one. If the meeting can be arranged, the Officer(s) will then ensure that those present at the meeting are advised from the start that the discussions will not bind the authority to any particular course of action, that the meeting is properly recorded on the application file and the record of the meeting is disclosed when the application is considered by the Committee.”
RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL: That, subject to any amendment resulting from the resolutions above, the Planning Code of Good Practice as amended and contained at Appendix A be adopted.
REASON FOR DECISIONS: To ensure good governance within the Council and that the Council’s Planning Code of Good Practice remains fit for purpose and is consistent with best practice.