Agenda and minutes

To approve as correct the minutes of the meeting held on 16^th October 2018

(Note: If any Member wishes to propose an amendment to the minutes they should submit this in writing to committeeservices@horsham.gov.uk at least 24 hours before the meeting.  Where applicable, the audio recording of the meeting will be checked to ensure the accuracy of the proposed amendment.)

The minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 16^th October 2018 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive any declarations of interest from Members of the Committee

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive any announcements from the Chairman of the Committee or the Chief Executive

There were no announcements.

To receive the report of the Chief Executive

The Committee received the report of the Chief Executive on the outcome of the initial consultation in respect of a community governance review of the parishes of Southwater and Shipley, with particular reference to an amendment to the boundary between the two parishes to take account of new development.

A total of five responses had been received.  Two members of the public supported an amendment to the parish boundary and one objected.  Shipley Parish Council requested that the proposal should not be approved but that if there was a proven need for change, the boundary should be amended so as to encompass the development site at Mulberry Fields only.  West Sussex County Council recommended that no change should be made until the development was complete but if a change was approved that the County division boundary should be amended accordingly.

The Committee considered that the occupiers of the development at Mulberry Fields would be likely to identify as residents of Southwater and would be more likely to use the local facilities, schools, doctors etc. in Southwater than Shipley.  However, the extension of the boundary suggested by Southwater parish was considered to be in excess of that required to encompass the new development and an alternative boundary was therefore proposed.

Two local Members, Councillors Claire Vickers and Nigel Jupp, commented on the proposed review.

The Committee agreed to proceed to the next stage of the review by publishing a draft proposal for consultation.

            RESOLVED

(i)            That a draft proposal amending the boundary between Shipley and Southwater Parish Councils, as shown on the appended map, so that the entirety of the development at Mulberry Fields falls within Southwater Parish, be approved and published for a consultation period expiring on Monday 7^th January 2019.

(ii)           That a meeting of the Committee be held following the expiry of the period for consultation to consider any representations received and make final recommendations to the Council.

REASON

It is timely to conduct a review now in accordance with Government and LGBCE guidance. The suggested timetable meets the requirement of completing a review within 12 months of its commencement.

To receive a verbal update from the Monitoring Officer

The Chairman of the Committee and the Monitoring Officer gave an update on actions taken and information gathered to date in respect of the review of planning committees at Horsham.

The Advisor and Peer Member from the Planning Advisory Service had now attended meetings of both the North and South Planning Committees and completed their research.  It was therefore expected that their report would be received shortly.

To date, two Member visits had been undertaken to observe the operation of planning committees at other authorities and a further visit was scheduled for the day after this meeting.  In addition, telephone interviews had been carried out with three authorities.

The Director of Place and the Head of Development each addressed the Committee on their views and observations regarding the current operation of planning committees at the Council.

The Committee discussed a variety of issues including training, the current scheme of delegation and the role of members of a planning committee,

It was agreed that all Members would be invited to a seminar on Monday 10^th December 2018 where the information gathered to date would be presented together with details of the outcome of the Planning Advisory Service review.

Items not on the agenda which the Chairman of the meeting is of the opinion should be considered as urgent because of the special circumstances

There was no urgent business.