Agenda item

The Chairman said that concerns had been expressed to the Council by speakers that the allotted time of six minutes was insufficient. He reminded Members that the Committee had resolved to amend the speaking arrangements for this meeting on the 21 April 2021.

The Chairman said that he would like to consider the procedural implications of allowing additional time in the interest of fairness. The Legal Services Manager said that Part 3B of the constitution included a procedure for the Committee to depart from what was agreed by Members on 21 April 2021. She referred to paragraphs 2.8 and 2.9 of Part 3B of the constitution and said that Committee had the authority to depart from the agreed arrangements and determine specific arrangements for certain applications.

The Legal Services Manager explained that the suggestion from Officers was that the time allowed for objectors, the applicant and the Parish Councils be extended to eight minutes and this time would be split accordingly between the speakers.

Councillor Huggins proposed and Councillor Beckett seconded, a motion that in accordance with paragraph 2.9 of part 3B of the Constitution entitled committee functions and responsibilities, the Committee agree to depart from the speaking arrangements agreed on the 21 April 2021 in respect of applications 3/19/1046/FUL and 3/19/1051/FUL only, on the basis that the time allowed be increased to eight minutes objectors, the applicant and Parish Councils.

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

RESOLVED – that in accordance with paragraph 2.9 of part 3B of the Constitution entitled committee functions and responsibilities, the Committee agreed to depart from the speaking arrangements approved on the 21 April 2021 in respect of applications 3/19/1046/FUL and 3/19/1051/FUL only, on the basis that the time allowed be increased to eight minutes objectors, the applicant and Parish Councils.

The Principle Associate for Weightmans, advising the Committee on legal and related planning issues, said that there been late representations referring to predetermination. She outlined a few salient points and said that there was no legal impediment to the Committee determining these applications and then to go on and determine the housing applications at a later date.

The Chairman said that there had been some very late representations and bearing in mind the length of the representations, it would seem to be appropriate to have a short adjournment for 30 minutes for Members to consider this extra material and to consider the response of Officers to the issues that had been raised.

Councillor Newton proposed and Councillor Redfern seconded, a motion that there be a short adjournment for 30 minutes for Members to consider the extra material in the late representations and to consider the response of Officers to the issues that had been raised.

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

RESOLVED – that there be a short adjournment for 30 minutes for Members to consider the extra material in the late representations and to consider the response of Officers to the issues that had been raised.

The meeting reconvened at 18:20.