Issue - meetings

The Head of Planning and Building Control submitted a report that set out details of the proposed public speaking arrangements for the meetings of the Development Management Committee, which will be determining the current Gilston Area planning applications.

Members were reminded that in May 2019, the Committee had agreed public speaking arrangements for the Strategic Sites in the District Plan. The Head of Planning and Building Control explained that it was proposed to extend the 6 minute speaking arrangements for the strategic sites to the Gilston area applications.

Councillor Page asked if East Hertfordshire District Council was working with Harlow Council and Epping Forrest District Council to ensure consistency in terms of the public speaking arrangements.

Councillor Kemp agreed with the proposed six minutes in the report. He commented on the very sensible suggestion in the report that the Parish Councils combine representations within the six minutes available. He asked for clarification as to whether this would only apply where an application fell within more than one Council area.

The Head of Planning and Building Control said that the applications that were hopefully due to be determined by the Committee in June only fell within East Herts and Harlow. She said that Officers would be finalising arrangements with the other authorities over the coming weeks.

Members were advised that if an application only related to a single parish council area, the 6 minutes would only be available to that parish council. Councillor Beckett proposed and Councillor Kemp seconded, a motion that the revised arrangements for public speaking in relation to the Gilston area planning applications, as detailed in this report, be approved.

After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, this motion was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED – that the revised arrangements for public speaking in relation to the Gilston area planning applications, as detailed in this report, be approved.