Agenda item

To consider the report of the Head of Paid Service concerning the dissolution of the Planning Policy Sub-Committee.

11.1    Councillor Williams, Chair of the General Purposes Committee, moved the proposal that:

(1)       The Planning Policy Sub-Committee is dissolved, and

(2)       The Head of Place be authorised, in liaison with Group Leaders and the Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning, to set up a cross-party Planning Policy Member Liaison Group.

11.2    Councillor Williams outlined that the proposal was to improve efficiency while continuing community and democratic involvement in decision making. She highlighted that the government had placed responsibility on local planning to be timely and that a fine could be imposed for not acting in this manner.

11.3    Councillor Williams further noted that the proposal would mean a more collaborative approach with a better understanding of the more technical aspects of planning and that both Cheltenham and Tewkesbury Councils had done this to good effect.

11.4    Councillor Coole, seconded by Councillor Haigh, proposed the following amendment:

            Council is asked to RESOLVE that:

(1)      The Planning Policy Sub-Committee is dissolved.

(2)      The Head of Place be authorised, in liaison with Group Leaders and the Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning, to set up a cross-party Planning Policy Member Liaison Group.

The Head of Place be authorised, in liaison with Group Leaders and the Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning, to set up a formal cross-party Planning Policy Working Group, chaired by the Cabinet Member, with the power to make recommendations to Council on matters of planning policy.

11.5    Councillor Williams accepted the amendment.

11.6    RESOLVED that:

(1)  The Planning Policy Sub-Committee is dissolved, and

(2)  The Head of Place be authorised, in liaison with Group Leaders and the Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning, to set up a formal cross-party Planning Policy Working Group, chaired by the Cabinet Member, with the power to make recommendations to Council on matters of planning policy.