Public participation in Planning Committee

The request was successful.

Dear Charnwood Borough 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.

4. Are your Planning Committee procedure rules publicly available online? If yes, please provide the weblink.

Yours faithfully,

Sarah James

foi@charnwood.gov.uk, Charnwood Borough Council

Thank you for your information request which is acknowledged.
Your request is being considered and you should receive the information within 20 working days. This is subject to it not being covered by an exemption or requiring the payment of a fee.

I have set out below further information regarding the Freedom of Information Act for your information.

If you have any questions or concerns please contact me.

Yours sincerely

Andrea Pusey
Customer Experience Support Officer
Charnwood Borough Council
e-mail [Charnwood Borough Council request email]
Tel 01509 634711

The Council will provide the information requested wherever possible, however the Act does set out a number of exemptions that may prevent release of the information to you. If any of the exemptions do apply to the information that you have requested we will not be able to supply it. You will be notified if this is the case with the reasons why we are claiming an exemption and your rights to complain and appeal the decision.

If a fee is payable we will inform you of this and you must pay the fee before the information request can be processed further – the 20 working day timetable is suspended until receipt of the fee. The Act also sets out the amount of work that the Council can be required to undertake. If this limit is estimated to be exceeded by your request we can refuse to process the request. If your request exceeds this limit, we will let you know.

If any of the information requested concerns a third party they may be consulted prior to taking a decision whether to release the information to you or not.

We will aim to provide the information to you in the format that you have specified. If you require an alternative format please let me know. Where the format has not been specified the information will be provided by e-mail, or as a paper copy.

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foi@charnwood.gov.uk, Charnwood Borough Council

1 Attachment

Dear Ms James,

Following the above information request I am able to provide the following information:
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?
The following can speak at the Plans Committee on a Planning Application:
(i) An objector, where: (a) the objector has made a written comment on the application setting out the reasons for objection; (b) the grounds of objection raise material planning considerations; and (c) the objector has given written notice of a wish to speak;
(ii) An applicant (or agent appointed to act on his/her behalf);
(iii) An authorised representative of the Town/Parish Council or Meeting supporting the view of that Town/Parish Council or Meeting.

Generally speakers are allowed a maximum of five minutes. Please refer to the response to 4 below, the constitution guidance attached and the link to the weblinks below for more detail.

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.
No but where there is more than one objector/complainant who has made a request to speak and no agreement can be reached by the objectors/complainants, the time limit of five minutes will be divided equally among the objectors/complainants

3. Is there a limit on the total time allowed for registered speakers? If yes, please provide details of the time restriction.
Generally speakers are allowed a maximum of five minutes. Where there is more than one objector/complainant who has made a request to speak and no agreement can be reached by the objectors/complainants, the time limit of five minutes will be divided equally among the objectors/complainants. This provision also applies where both applicant and agent wish to speak.

4.Are your Planning Committee procedure rules publicly available online? If yes, please provide the weblink.
Yes here is the link to the relevant website pages:
https://www.charnwood.gov.uk/pages/publi...
https://www.charnwood.gov.uk/pages/const...

If you would like to re-use the information provided, please see the re-use page on our website
If you have any questions or concerns please contact me. I have outlined our Freedom of Information Complaints Procedure below should you need to make use of it.
Yours sincerely,

Megan Bilton
Data Protection and Information Security Officer
Charnwood Borough Council
[Charnwood Borough Council request email]
01509 634711

Charnwood Borough Council Freedom of Information and Environmental Information complaints procedure

Informal Complaints Procedure
If you are dissatisfied with the way in which your request has been handled please contact me, and I will try to resolve your complaint on an informal basis within 15 working days.
If you are then still dissatisfied with the response, please follow the formal complaints procedure below.
Formal Complaints Procedure
Put your formal complaint in writing, providing any supporting evidence, to the Customer Experience Manager at the address noted below, who will then investigate and respond to your complaint within 20 working days.
If the Customer Experience Manager dealt with your initial request for information your complaint will automatically be referred to the Head of Service and / or one of our Strategic Directors for independent consideration.

Write to: Customer Experience Manager
Charnwood Borough Council
Southfield Road
Loughborough
Leicestershire
LE11 2TU
Telephone: 01509 634596
E-mail: [Charnwood Borough Council request email]

If you remain dissatisfied with the handling of your request or complaint, you have a right to appeal to the Information Commissioner at:
The Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF. Telephone: 0303 123 1113. Website: www.ico.gov.uk
There is no charge for making an appeal.

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