Issue - meetings

Report of the Democratic Services Manager.

The Committee considered a report of the Democratic Services Manager to consider the time allotted to Ward Councillors to speak at meetings of the Planning and Highways Regulatory Committee.

The Democratic Services Manager presented the report and explained that if there was to be an increase in time limit for Ward Councillors, then it would be best practice to increase the time limit for all public speakers in the interest of fairness and to avoid exposing the Council to allegations of bias.

It was explained that the appended report had previously been before the Planning and Highways Regulatory Committee on 18 September 2017 where their views on the matter were sought. It was noted that Planning Committee Members voted unanimously to maintain the three minute time limit for Ward Councillors.

Council Business Committee Members felt that Ward Councillors should have more time to speak at Planning Committee as their views represented the views of a number of people. Members asked various questions of the Officers present regarding the public speaking process and the practices currently in place.

It was proposed by Councillor Ian Clift and seconded by Councillor Nick Wilkinson:

‘That no change is made to the current time limit of three minutes for Ward Councillors speaking at Planning and Highways Regulatory Committee.’

Upon being put to the vote, three Members voted in favour of the proposition and four against.

It was then proposed by Councillor Tracy Brown and seconded by Councillor Phillippa Williamson:

‘That Council be asked to consider increasing the time limit for Ward Members speaking at Planning and Highways and Regulatory Committee from three to five minutes.”

Upon being put to the vote, five Members voted in favour of the proposition and two against.

Resolved:

That Council be asked to consider increasing the time limit for Ward Members speaking at Planning and Highways and Regulatory Committee from three to five minutes.