The purpose of the Planning Committee is to oversee the work of the planning function and to determine certain categories of planning application, broadly large scale or controversial proposals.

The Committee meets at the Town Hall about once a month at 7:30pm on a Thursday.  Upcoming dates can be accessed here

The agenda is published five working days in advance of the meeting.  You can view the agnda at either the Town Hall or Bourne Hall reception area or download it online, and you can discuss individual applications by telephoning the case officer named in the agenda.

If you wish to speak at a Planning Committee you should turn up in person at the Town Hall between 6pm and 7pm on the night of the meeting.  It is not possible to pre-register for speaking at Planning Committee.  If a number of people wish to speak on a particular application they will be asked to nominate a single representative.

There are three categories of speakers for each application which are one objector, one supporter and the Applicant or Agent.  Each will be given a maximum of three minutes in which to express their views.  Ward councillors also have a right to speak about applications that impact on the ward they represent.

The chairman will introduce each application for decision and announce the names of all those people who have registered to speak.

After all the speakers have finished, the chair will open the item to the Committee for debate.  At the end of the debate the Committee will vote on the proposal.
 
Each application that the Committee is asked to determine will be the subject of a report from a planning officer.  The report will detail the pros and cons of the proposal and will summarize comments received.  Written comments will be available for inspection by the Committee.  Plans will be projected onto the screen in the Council Chamber.

A member of the Committee may put forward an alternative proposal to that printed in the agenda.

The decision of the Committee is the decision of the Council on the application in question.  The decision will be communicated to the applicant

Agendas and minutes are available online