Public Representations at Development Control Planning Committees

Abstract

This article reviews the findings of a survey undertaken by the authors in 1999 of all local planning authorities in England and Wales to establish current practices and procedures regarding public speaking rights at development control planning committees. The survey found that the number of planning authorities allowing public speaking appeared to have doubled in the last few years. At the same time, over one third of all planning authorities still did not allow public speaking, and had no intention of introducing it. Moreover, of those that did allow it, only one in five permitted the full range of interests recommended by the Nolan Committee on standards of conduct in local government. We argue that there is a needfor planning authorities to exchange experiences on speaking rights in order to inform 'best practice', and conclude that there may well be tensions between the drive to improve efficiency in local government decision making and the demands for more openness and accountability.

Revisiting the ideologies of planning law

“…There are no legal rights for the applicant, objecting parties or members of the public to address the planning committee meeting, although it is common practice for committees to allow objectors to speak. The government has encouraged local authorities to allow parties to address planning committees [28], however, practice across local authorities varies, with some not giving the opportunity for interested parties to be heard, whilst amongst those who do there is no common procedure (Manns and Wood, 2002). The minimum period of three days for committee reports to be available for public inspection prior to the meeting, also restricts the ability of interested parties to prepare cogent oral submissions.…”