Agenda item

To seek the Committee’s approval for the establishment of a Development Management Advisory Panel, as an officer/member working group considering matters relating to development management performance, enforcement policy and performance, and appeal performance.

The Head of Development Management introduced the report and explained that it was for the creation of an informal Working Group. The Working Group was recommended as part of the planning enforcement audit that was taken to Audit and Standards Committee in November 2021. She explained that the group was not a decision making committee and would have no powers to make decisions or take votes.

She drew the Committees attention to page 39 of the document pack, the proposed Terms of Reference (ToR) and in particular the functions. She further explained that the terms of reference were different from other working groups and this is why it was recommended that the new panel be chaired by an Officer.

The Head of Development Management explained the recommendation was for her to chair the Working Group however,  the Committee may prefer a Member to chair the Working Group. If so, Councillor Baxendale would be an ideal candidate but they would need to agree to amend the ToR.

In response to a question raised, the Head of Development Management further confirmed that the Monitoring Officer felt that due to the quasi-judicial nature of the committee and the issues that were dealt with by Development Control Committee (DCC), the Working Group should be chaired by an Officer. This would also further highlight the fact that the Working Group was not a Sub-Committee of DCC.

Councillor Brown proposed the amendment that the Working Group be chaired by the Chair of the Development Control Committee. Councillor Brine Seconded.

Councillor Brine raised a point that if a Member chaired the group then it would free up the Officer to be fully involved with discussions.

Councillor Brown raised a further point that if the Working Group was led by an Officer it would feel more like self scrutiny rather than the recommended member oversight.

Councillor Ryder questioned whether the Working Group would remain non political if it was led by a Member and explained that an Officer would still be able to guide discussions and bring their own experiences to the meeting and still fulfil the role of Chair.

The Head of Development Management confirmed:

• The Working Group would not take votes or make decisions however, if something needed to be addressed it could be brought to the attention of DCC.
• As it was a completely new Working Group, there was a recommendation to review it in 12 months’ time.

Councillor Bullingham questioned how the decision would be reached to bring something to the attention of DCC if the Working Group could not take a vote. The Chair confirmed it would be down to a consensus.

The Development Team Manager highlighted that the statistics of the department were now circulated twice a year to DCC and explained that the Working Group would be a forum for discussing any issues with the figures and any changes from Central Government. He further explained it would be much more of a discussion for the Members and Officers in the Working Group and should a decision be required, it would be brought to the attention of DCC.

In response to Councillor Ryder, the Head of Development Management confirmed that on page 39 of the document pack where it referred to the elected members having ‘appropriate training and experience’. This was in reference to all Members of DCC as opposed to Members who don’t sit on that Committee and may not have received the same training or have similar experiences.

Councillor Fenton debated whether there could be an open process for elected Members and whether Members could put themselves forward for the Working Group.

After much debate the Chair confirmed that he would liaise with the group leaders in order to elect the membership of the Working Group.

After being put to a vote, the amendment for the panel to be chaired by the Chair of Development Control Committee was carried.

Councillor Fenton proposed an additional amendment for the Councillor membership of the Panel to be appointed by the Chair in consultation with the Group Leaders. Councillor Brine seconded.

After being put to a vote, the amendment for the Councillor membership of the Panel to be appointed by the Chair in consultation with the Group Leaders was carried.

After being put to a vote, the amended Motion was carried unanimously.