Dear Cllr Kemp

I enclose the proposed amendments to the scheme of delegation. It appears that there were some crossed-wires and it was thought that the note had been sent to you previously when it hadn't been.

Your comments are very welcome. Let me know how you would like to structure the discussion.

Andrew

Andrew Gregory

Director of Planning, Housing and the Built Environment

South Norfolk Council

Swan Lane

Long Stratton

Norwich NR15 2XE

Telephone : 01508 533831

Email : xxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx

From: Christopher Kemp [mailto:xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxx.xx.xx]
Sent: 20 April 2009 20:42
To: Trevor Lewis; Vivienne Bell; David Goldson; Murray Gray; Tony Palmer (External); Alison Thomas; Sue Thomson; Gerard Watt; Keith Weeks; Michael Windridge; Barry Greenway; Tony Game (External)
Cc: Joanna Kitchener; John Fuller; Sandra Dinneen; Tim Mobbs; Andrew Gregory; Derek Blake; Martin Wynne
Subject: Area Planning Committees

Dear Colleagues,

Under Minute 850 it was delegated to me, following consultation as specified in para. 8 of the Committee's resolution, to report to the Council with recommendations regarding the above matter. As I am in Birmingham at the time of the meeting on 22nd April, I thought it appropriate to report to all members the present position with regard to these matters.

I have held discussions with Cllrs Lewis, Blake and Wynne and also with Ms Dinneen, Dr Mobbs and Mr Gregory. As a result of those discussions it is my intention to make the following recommendations (I refer to the paragraphs of recommendations of the Committee. I do not intend to reopen any of the decisions reached by the Committee at its previous meeting).

the membership of the main Planning Committee be reduced to 11 (para.1), to be allocated 9 Conservatives and 2 Liberal Democrats.
the number of Area Planning Committees be reduced from three to two (para.3), East and West, corresponding to the Areas of the Planning Teams which are based on whole Wards.
the membership of the new East Area Planning Committee be 8 (para.2), 7 Conservatives and 1 Liberal Democrat.
the membership of the new West Area Planning Committee be 8 (para.2), 6 Conservatives and 2 Liberal Democrats.
both Area Planning Committees will normally meet in South Norfolk House (para.4) starting at 4-00pm (para.5).
the Area Planning Committees will meet on successive Mondays on a four weekly cycle.
membership of the Area Planning Committees be territorial (ie: of qualfied members representing Wards included in the Area) but that substitutes may be any qualified member.

There are two matters outstanding:

revision of the scheme of delegation (para.6); and
protocols for the calling of and venue for special meetngs (para.7).

On both of these points I am awaiting draft ideas from Mr Gregory who has been away on leave. Once I have these ideas, I will hold discussions with Cllrs Gray, Blake and Wynne and with Mr Gregory, Mr Whitham, Dr Mobbs and Ms Dinneen as envisaged by the existing decision of the Committee.

Arising from the separate Task Group that has been set up by Cabinet (comprising Cllrs Fuller, Wilby, Lewis and myself) to look at the other aspects of streamlining Committees, it has been suggested that in future no new Chairman or Vice-Chairman of any Committee should be appointed unless they complete Chairmanship training. This seems an attractive suggestion though there would clearly need to be "grandfather rights" for those presently serving as Chairman. However, it will not form part of my recommendations to Council regarding Area Planning Committees but will, if it is progressed, be part of the recommendations of the separate Task Group.

I trust that this e-mail will facilitate the speedy dispatch of item 12 on the Committee's Agenda.

Yours sincerely,

Christopher Kemp

South Norfolk Council is working to Keep Norfolk Local. For more information visit www.keepnorfolklocal.com
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