Councillor Presentation
The Council operates a briefing scheme for Borough Councillors,
called ‘Development Briefings’ to alert councillors at an early
stage to major proposals. These private briefings are an
opportunity to introduce emerging schemes - at pre-application
stage and for recently made planning applications – and to log
issues that members might express.
Councillors do not express formal views on applications but
raise points which might need further work or issues they would
like to understand in more detail. These are fed back to applicants
and often result in negotiating scheme improvements and ensuring
that issues are widely understood as early as possible. This can
save abortive time and expense and creates a stronger sense of
confidence in the process based on a good understanding of emerging
proposals.
At pre-application stage prospective applicants may be invited
to present their own schemes to a ‘Development Briefing’ for 10-15
minutes and take questions. Once an application is made
presentations by the applicants would only be appropriate in public
session. Typically this would happen shortly after an application
has been made – normally these sessions are planned immediately
before a Planning Committee at 6.00 and notice will be given on the
Committee’s agenda. Where especially significant schemes are
concerned they may be discussed both at pre-application stage and
after an application is submitted.
This webpage was updated on
11/4/2009