Issue - meetings

The Leader of the Council submitted a report providing details of the Planning Peer Challenge and an action plan to implement the proposed recommendations.  Given the timescales involved going beyond the elections in May 2015, the Leader advised that he had asked the Executive Member for Community and Partnership Liaison to oversee the implementation of the action plan recommendations.

In response to Members’ comments, the Leader acknowledged that the action plan needed further development and invited Members to advise the Executive Member for Community and Partnership Liaison of any gaps identified.

Members commented on various issues identified within the Peer Challenge, including Member/Officer relationships, the quality of highways advice and whether the Development Management portfolio holder should be a member of the Development Management Committee.  The Leader responded to these points and looked forward to the development of the action plan.

The Executive approved the recommendations as now detailed.

RESOLVED - that (A) the content of the report be noted;

(B)      the action plan, as detailed at Essential Reference Paper ‘C’ of the report submitted, be approved; and

(C)      the Executive Member for Community and Partnership Liaison, in conjunction with Officers, be requested to develop the detail of the action plan in (B) above.