Having Your Say at Planning Committee
This document explains the way in which applicants, their agents or members of the public may attend the Council's Planning Committee and speak for a limited time on any planning proposal in which they have an interest. Please read the following text carefully as it explains in detail the Committee function and the procedures and restrictions that apply to public speaking.
DELEGATED POWERS - Not all applications are decided by the Planning Committee - a considerable number of non-controversial applications are dealt with by Officers under powers delegated to them by the Committee. In such cases interested parties may submit their comments in writing but there is no opportunity to speak before Committee when delegated decisions are made.
Speaking at Planning Committee
Consultation takes place on all planning applications processed by the Council. This includes statutory organisations, interested groups, neighbouring residents and the general public depending on the development proposed. All written comments received in respect of applications are taken into account before decisions are made on the applications. In the case of objections from the general public all these are attached in full to the agenda items reported to Committee, provided that they are received in time.
There are instances when an objector may feel that by being able to address the Planning Committee their views will be given greater weight, be presented more clearly and that they could raise issues that have arisen since their written objections were submitted.
Likewise, developers may wish to address the Planning Committee to respond to comments made by objectors, promote the benefits of their scheme or respond to the recommended reasons to refuse permission.
This webpage sets out the procedures to follow should you wish to address the Planning Committee. These procedures apply to everyone including residents, applicants, agents, developers and Parish/Town Councils. Separate arrangements exist for Elected Members not sitting on the Planning Committee to address the Committee.
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Planning Committee
The Planning Committee normally meets every fourth Wednesday at 9.30am in Grimsby Town Hall to consider all planning applications that have not been determined under delegated powers. A copy of the scheme of delegation is available from the Planning Department's reception.
The Agenda for the Planning Committee is prepared so that it is available for public inspection at least 5 full days in advance of the Committee, i.e. normally the Wednesday of the previous week.
The Planning Committee would normally make one of the following decisions on applications placed before them:
- approved with or without conditions or the requirements to enter into Section 106 Agreements;
- refused;
- referred to the Secretary of State with a recommendation to approve;
- deferred for a Site Visit;
- deferred for negotiations;
- deferred for further information
To be able to hear as much information as is practicable will assist Members in making informed judgements on proposed development. Public speaking is intended to aid this process and to ensure that the Council's procedures accord with Human Rights Legislation and the principles of Best Value.
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Procedures for Public Speaking
A Request to Speak at Planning Committee form is available here.
- The Director of Law and Democratic Services must be notified by 5pm one full day in advance of Committee, ie normally the Monday before Committee. This can be in writing, by e-mail to paul.wisken@nelincs.gov.uk or by telephoning Mr. P. Wisken on 01472 324124. You must leave your name, address, a day-time contact number and details of the application.
- Objectors have a total of five minutes to address Committee either as an individual or a group. If other people have requested to speak on an item you will be provided with their details and it will be for you to liaise with each other to decide how your views are presented.
- Supporters/applicants have a total of five minutes to address Committee.
- Public speaking will be permitted each time the application is considered by the Planning Committee.
- Those people addressing Committee will be advised when they have 30 seconds of their allotted five minutes remaining and will be expected to cease talking immediately on being advised that the five minutes is up.
- Those people who have advised the Director of Law and Democratic Services of their desire to address Committee are requested to identify themselves to the Committee Clerk 15 minutes before Committee commences. This will enable the order of the discussion of items on the agenda to be varied at the Chairman's discretion if it is appropriate. Applications where there are public speakers will generally be discussed first on the agenda.
- The discussion on applications will be in the following order:
- Chair of Planning to announce the application
- Director of Environmental Services or his representative to present the item
- Objector to address Committee
- Applicant/agent to address Committee
- Ward Members (not on Planning Committee) to address Committee
- Director of Environmental Services or his representative to respond to any issues raised
- Members questions and debate
- Director of Environmental Services or his representative to respond to any issues raised
- Proposition
- Vote
In addressing the Committee you are requested to restrict your comments to issues which are material planning considerations. Advice on what constitutes a material consideration may be obtained from the Department of Environmental Services.
Where speakers wish to present illustrative information to exemplify their presentation, this will be permitted subject to the limitations of the technology available and provided advance notice has been given of the material eg photos, models, videos. The use of additional information must have been agreed in advance with the Planning Officer or Solicitor to ensure that there is no issue of impropriety or probity especially in respect of videos showing people or events in an unfavourable way. The use of additional materials will be accounted for within the overall 5 minute allowance for speaking.
This will not include the introduction of additional or amended plans or drawings and will not include further written information which has not been previously presented as part of the application
This formalises an arrangement whereby photography, models, videos or other helpful information can be presented on the day to help illustrate a point.
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