Meeting documents

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr M Hussain (JP) and Cllr B Pearce.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the Regulatory & Appeals Committee held on 2 February 2015 be approved as a true record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive any disclosure of disclosable pecuniary interests by Members relating to items on the agenda.  If any Member is uncertain as to whether an interest should be disclosed, he or she is asked if possible to contact the District Solicitor prior to the meeting.

Members are reminded that if they are declaring an interest, they should state the nature of that interest whether or not they are required to withdraw from the meeting. 

No declarations of interest were received.

A report was submitted which requested feedback and comment on the proposed Scheme of Delegation for the Local Plan and other Planning Policy documents, which could then be referred to Cabinet for further consideration, and subsequently recommended to Full Council for endorsement in July 2015.

The report stated that the preparation of the Local Plan and other key planning policy documents was a statutory requirement and helped to deliver the sustainable development priority of the Council. At present in accordance with the Constitution decisions relating to the Local Plan/Development Plan, including draft proposals for consultation were reserved to Full Council. In addition the Constitution was currently silent on the approval process for certain other related documents, example approval of the Local Development Scheme and the statement of community Involvement.

The report proposed that a new scheme of delegation be introduced which would provide a more streamlined approach to preparing relevant documents and facilitate timely production, whilst ensuring that the main decisions were taken at the correct level. The proposed Scheme of Delegation was attached at Appendix A to the report. 

The Presenting Officer outlined the Local Plan process, and highlighted that although decisions regarding Local Plans and related documents at the early consultation stage process would be delegated to the relevant Cabinet Member, the approval of the formal publication version would still be reserved to Full Council. Moreover, it was emphasised that despite delegated authority having been given to the Cabinet Member for certain stages, the opportunity to refer the matter to the Cabinet was available in situations where it was deemed appropriate that greater exposure of a particular stage was required.

Members debated the report before them in considerable detail.  Some concern was expressed over the level of reliance on one particular Cabinet Member, and it was therefore suggested that delegation be in consultation  with the Leader of the Council for those items listed in lines 1, 2 and 7 of the Local Plan delegations. It was also noted that line 7 would take place earlier in the Local Plan process and as such, should be moved to become line 3 in the table shown at appendix A Therefore it was  

RESOLVED: That the following comments be referred to Cabinet:

(i)            Line 7 within the Local Plan delegations at Appendix A be moved to become line 3 to accurately reflect the Local Plan process

(ii)          The Constitution be amended to incorporate the proposed Scheme of Delegation (Appendix A), subject to the wording `in consultation with the Leader of the Council` being added to lines 1, 2 and 3 of the Local Plan preparation stages.

A report was submitted which stated that following a Community Governance Review in the parishes of Hughenden and Lacey Green it had been agreed by Full Council in 2013 that two properties named Cherry Dell and Trundles, be transferred from Hughenden to the Lacey Green Parish and the parish boundaries be amended accordingly. However at that time a definitive annotated map had not been drawn up thereby making the boundary amendment unidentifiable. As such a request to the Boundary Commission for England to amend the ward boundary in order to reflect the parish amendment had not been made.

The report further stated that since that time the owner of the Cherry Dell property had produced a map showing a sensible interpretation of the proposed changes, and a site visit had been undertaken by the Electoral Services Manager to view the precise boundaries.

It was noted that the two Parish Councils affected had been consulted on the proposed boundaries and both had responded supporting them.

In considering the report, Members were happy to recommend the proposed boundary changes as set out in the appendices to the report.

RECOMMENDED That:

(i)                 The parish boundary be amended as depicted in the annotated map (appendix A) to move the two properties Cherry Dell and Trundles into the Parish of Lacey Green; and

(ii)               A formal request be made to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England for a consequential amendment to the ward boundaries between Greater Hughenden and Lacey Green, Speen and the Hampdens District Wards based on the defined Parish amendment.

Submission of the file on Actions taken under Delegated Powers since the last meeting. This file has been placed in the Members` room for inspection prior to the meeting.

Actions taken under delegated authority were circulated at the meeting.

1/2015 – Appointment of Mr Bill Reid as a member of the Independent Remuneration Panel.