Public participation in Planning Committee
Dear Newcastle upon Tyne City Council,
Civic Voice, the national charity for the civic and conservation movement is campaigning to put public participation at the heart of the planning system. With this in mind, I am writing to request the following information under the Freedom of Information Act:
1. Can you confirm how long, in minutes, a community group such as a Civic Society is permitted to speak at your local council’s Planning Committee? (By ‘Planning Committee’ we mean your local authority’s committee of elected members which determines planning applications. It may be known by a different name in your local authority).
2. Is there a limit on the number of registered speakers permitted to speak at your Planning Committee? If yes, please specify the maximum number of speakers allowed.
3. Is there a limit on the total time allowed for registered speakers? If yes, please provide details of the time restriction.
3. Are your Planning Committee procedure rules publicly available online? If yes, please provide the weblink.
4. Can you provide a contact email address for the secretariat for your Planning Committee, should we require any further information?
Yours faithfully,
Sarah James
Acknowledgement: FOI 15395
Thank you for your request for information. We are dealing with it under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
We have passed your request to relevant colleagues who will respond within 20 working days starting the working day after receipt of your request.
Regards
Freedom of Information Team
Dear Sarah
Thank you for your Freedom of Information request received on 2 August 2019.
Your Request
Civic Voice, the national charity for the civic and conservation movement is campaigning to put public participation at the heart of the planning system. With this in mind, I am writing to request the following information under the Freedom of Information Act:
1. Can you confirm how long, in minutes, a community group such as a Civic Society is permitted to speak at your local council’s Planning Committee? (By ‘Planning Committee’ we mean your local authority’s committee of elected members which determines planning applications. It may be known by a different name in your local authority).
2. Is there a limit on the number of registered speakers permitted to speak at your Planning Committee? If yes, please specify the maximum number of speakers allowed.
3. Is there a limit on the total time allowed for registered speakers? If yes, please provide details of the time restriction.
3. Are your Planning Committee procedure rules publicly available online? If yes, please provide the weblink.
4. Can you provide a contact email address for the secretariat for your Planning Committee, should we require any further information?
Our Response
Under Section 21 of the Act, we do not have to give information in response to a request if it is already reasonably accessible to you.
All of the information in this FOI is available on the Council web site at:
https://www.newcastle.gov.uk/services/pl...
If you are unhappy with our response to your request you can ask for an internal review of our decision. Please send details of your request for review to the following address:
Information Governance
Newcastle City Council
Floor 6
Civic Centre
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 8QH
Phone: 0191 277 7666
Email: [Newcastle City Council request email]
If you are still unhappy with how we have handled your request following our internal review you can complain to the Information Commissioner. Contact details are as follows:
Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Phone: 0303 123 1113
Email: [email address]
Kind Regards
Freedom of Information
Newcastle City Council
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