Agenda and minutes

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Items
No. Item

1.

Public Speaking pdf icon PDF 124 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chairman welcomed members of the public to the meeting. He said proceedings would begin with public representations, including those that had been sent to the Council in writing. Written representations were read out  by the Chairman.

 

Summaries of all statements made during the public speaking session have been appended to these minutes.

 

The Chairman said the meeting would not be recorded as it was Council policy to only broadcast Full Council, Cabinet, Planning and PPWG meetings. He said he had requested a change in policy to allow the broadcasting of Scrutiny meetings in future.

2.

Apologies for Absence and Declarations of Interest

To receive any apologies for absence and declarations of interest.

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Asker and Davies.

                         

Councillors Chambers, Gerard and Lemon declared non-pecuniary interests as members of their respective parish councils and that they had been voting members of the Planning Committee on 14 November 2018 which had determined the Stansted Airport application.

3.

Handling Major Planning Applications pdf icon PDF 83 KB

To consider the report on handling major planning applications.

Minutes:

The Chairman said the purpose of the meeting was to draw up terms of reference for a study in relation to the way in which Uttlesford District Council (UDC) processed major planning applications. He reminded members that the Stansted Airport planning application was still an open matter as it was currently with the Secretary of State. The purpose of this study was to look at all processes relating to major planning applications received by the Council.

 

The Chairman proposed an alternative recommendation to that included in the report.

 

The Chairman read the revised recommendation as follows:

 

“The Scrutiny Committee thanks members of the public for making representations about large planning applications at both its meeting and by written correspondence.

 

The committee resolves to commission an independent study on large planning application processes. The committee will take account of the representations already made and any other representations it receives in formulating a Scoping Report for the independent study.

 

The purpose of the independent study will be to identify improvements to the Council’s processes for handling large planning applications. The process cases to be studied will include the application determined in November 2018 for increased capacity at Stansted Airport as well as other large planning applications that will enhance the value of the study.

 

The committee intends to report back expeditiously with a proposed Scoping Report and preliminary advice on how the study can be conducted effectively and independently. The committee wishes to achieve delivery of at least a draft report and draft recommendations by early summer 2019. The Scoping Report should contain a preliminary timetable showing provisional key milestones.

Additional meetings of the Scrutiny Committee will be called if they are needed to ensure that the study work begins on time to meet the timetable.

 

A reference group comprising the committee chairman and vice chairman, plus Councillors Lemon and Light will be established to work in the background with officers to progress this initiative.”

 

Councillor Lemon seconded the proposal. He said it was important that work began on this study as soon as possible.

 

Councillor LeCount said he supported a study into the Council’s planning processes, as it would identify what the council was doing well, in addition to identifying weaknesses.

 

Councillor Gerard said it was important to scrutinise the Council’s planning procedure from inception to completion, to demonstrate the council’s commitment to improving processes and for reasons of openness and transparency. For purposes of best practice, it was right to define the limits of an investigation but the committee had to be careful not to limit the scope too narrowly and risk leaving out fundamental issues that required addressing. He raised a number of instances during the Planning meeting held on 14 November 2018, specifically alleged interference from members of the public and a proposal from the Chairman relating to a deferment ‘deal’, that would not be in the remit of the investigation if members approved the current draft of the scoping report before them. He said he supported the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

4.

Any Other Business

Minutes:

The Chairman proposed scheduling a pre-budget briefing before the next Scrutiny meeting on 31 January. Members’ availability would be canvassed in the coming week.

 

           

            The meeting ended at 9.00pm. 

 

 

PUBLIC SPEAKING

 

Statement of Simon Havers (read by the Chairman)

 

Mr Havers said there were three elements that needed to be addressed by the Scrutiny Committee following approval of the Stansted Airport planning application to increase passenger numbers. There was a need for a review to restore public confidence following poor public engagement in the lead up to the application; the scope of the review was to be as broad as possible but with specific reference to the Stansted Airport application to ensure all involved in the process were held to account; and in terms of timing, the review should begin without delay.

 

Statement of Debbie Bryce (read by the Chairman)

 

Ms Bryce said she wanted to make Scrutiny aware that she had been frustrated when trying to relay information to Planning Committee members in the period leading up to the determination of the Stansted Airport application. The issues related to ancillary development at Stansted Airport and a Freedom of Information request for minutes of meetings between UDC and the airport operator. She believed that the Council had not served the public interest in this matter.

 

Statement of Ray Woodcock

 

Mr Woodcock spoke in relation to the Stansted Airport application. He said he was aware of at least three people who were denied the opportunity to speak during the public speaking sessions and were told that all of the time had been allocated, even though all three sessions ended early. He added that the issue of air pollution was not properly addressed during the planning process. He believed that these issues justified an investigation into the way major planning applications were handled by UDC.

 

Statement of Robert Beer

 

Mr Beer said the decision to approve the Stansted Airport application had left the electorate with little faith in the democratic process. He said officer reports were biased and in favour of the applicant, and he criticised the reasoning of members who voted in favour of approval. He said the scrutiny review should include specific reference to the decision made by the Planning Committee on 14 November, and, as the application was still “live”, it was the ideal time to scrutinise the decision. He said residents deserved greater transparency and accountability from their council.

 

Statement of Brian Ross

 

 Mr Ross said the recent Stansted Airport planning application had become politicised and this would lead to Scrutiny restricting the scope of any investigation, rather than examining the process from start to finish. It was necessary for an independent and thorough review into the process, in order to restore public trust, develop best practice and to ensure no malpractice had occurred. He urged the Committee to establish an independent review to examine all aspects of how major planning applications were handled at UDC.

 

Statement of Colin Day

 

Mr Day said officers and councillors at  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.