Public can quiz planning officers over reports

By Elgan Hearn, Local Democracy Reporter

A change to speaking rules at Powys council’s Planning committee meetings could see county planners have their work challenged and criticised in public.

Proposals to change the public speaking protocol were brought in front of councillors at a meeting of Powys County Council’s Planning committee on Thursday, October 31.

The current system sees a planning officer give a brief explanation of an application before public speakers, for or against the scheme, can have their say.

Once the public speaking session is over the committee chairman hands the item back over to the planning officer who then go through their report in detail.

At the end of the report the planner offers their opinion as a recommendation on the application before the floor is opened to questions from councillors.

The new system would see planning officers give their report in full to the committee at the start of the item and before public speakers have their say.

Committee chairman, Cllr Gareth D Jones, explained that issues had been raised by public speakers who felt they had “no opportunity” to address any concerns they have with the planning officer’s report.

Planning professional leader, Peter Morris, said: “I think it will give a flow through the application by amending this and I’m happy to recommend it. We’re trying to simplify it for help and efficiency reasons.”

Cllr Claire Hall supported the changes and that she was “familiar” with this style of public speaking at other authorities.

Former committee chairman, Cllr Karl Lewis, said: “How many complaints have we had on the current formant?”

Cllr Jones said: “No complaints but lots of verbal comments.

“We’ve had a few emotional meetings over the past few months and members of the public have spoken to officers and myself about their lack of opportunity to correct some of the information that officers have presented.

“Officers will have the right to come back.”

Cllr Lewis asked if any planning agents had been in touch on this issue as well?

Cllr Jones said: “Yes, this is something we can try and if we don’t feel that its working, we can revisit it.”

Councillors voted unanimously to change the public speaking protocol.