Issue - meetings

To recommend an amendment to the constitution to withdraw the “minded to refuse” process at Planning Committee.

Members received a report which proposed an amendment to the council’s constitution to remove the “minded to refuse” process from the Planning Committee procedure rules. During discussion, mixed views were expressed on the success, or otherwise, of the process. Some members felt that that the process gave members a welcome opportunity to consider reasons for refusal and that it was beneficial, whilst others felt that delayed decisions and caused confusion for the public. It was highlighted that there would still be provision for deferral should there be a genuine need to have further discussions with the applicant or give consideration to any particular aspect of the application.

It was moved by Councillor Bray and seconded by Councillor MJ Crooks that the constitution be amended to remove the “minded to refuse” process.

Councillor Bray, along with five further councillors, requested that voting on the motion be recorded. The vote was subsequently taken as follows:

Councillors CM Allen; RG Allen; Bill; Bray; Cartwright; Collett; Cook; Cope; MJ Crooks; WJ Crooks; Findlay; Flemming; Furlong; Gibbens; Glenville; Ladkin; Lay; Lynch; LJ Mullaney; MT Mullaney; Nichols; Pendlebury; Roberts; Sheppard-Bools; Walker and H Williams voted FOR the motion (26);

Councillors Hodgkins; Hollick and Morrell abstained from voting.

The motion was therefore declared CARRIED and it was

RESOLVED – paragraph 2.12 of part 3c of the council’s constitution referring to the “minded to refuse” process be deleted.