Agenda and minutes

Robert Sheppard asked for nominations for Chair of the Committee.

Cllr. Sam Mackover then proposed, and Cllr. Joanna Gardner seconded, that Cllr. Kim Taylor-Smith be elected Chair for the remainder of the Municipal Year.

The Committee then unanimously RESOLVED –

That Cllr. Kim Taylor-Smith be elected Chair for the remainder of the Municipal Year.

Apologies were received from Cllr. Johnny Thalassites.

Any member of the Council who has a disclosable pecuniary interest in a matter to be considered at the meeting is reminded to disclose the interest to the meeting and to leave the Chamber while any discussion or vote on the matter takes place.

Members are also reminded that if they have any other significant interest in a matter to be considered at the meeting, which they feel should be declared in the public interest, such interests should be declared to the meeting. In such circumstances Members should consider whether their continued participation, in the matter relating to the interest, would be reasonable in the circumstances, particularly if the interest may give rise to a perception of a conflict of interests, or whether they should leave the Chamber while any discussion or vote on the matter takes place.

No declarations of interest were made.

The minutes of the meeting held on 10 July 2023 were confirmed as a correct record for the Chair’s signature.

Members flagged issues that had arisen in the past with specific polling stations and asked what the Council could do to best alert electors to any changes in polling stations.  In response, Sue Loynes indicated the Council would write to electors affected, put the correct details on poll cards and ensure there was good signage on election day.

In response to a question about voter ID, Sue confirmed that those without relevant ID could apply in advance for a ‘voter authority certificate.’

The report was received and noted.

The Chair invited Amanda Frame, of the Kensington Society, to the table. Amanda referred to submissions made by herself, Sophia Lambert and Michael Bach, all expressing concern that the proposals had emerged without any advance consultation with amenity societies.

The Chair then invited Lisa Cheung to summarise the background to these proposals. Lisa referred to the 2019 ‘peer review’ and issues flagged then and since around length of Committee meetings and the Royal Borough’s low objection threshold for bringing applications to Committee for determination. These proposals, which had come forward following discussions with Cllr. Cem Kemahli, the Lead Member, and Cllr. James Husband, Planning Chair, sought to retain the low threshold but involve the Chair in ensuring that all objections from Ward Councillors were underpinned by a valid planning reason.

The Committee indicated that it was content with the proposal to increase the size of the Planning Committee membership ‘pool’, provided its Members continued to be properly trained, on an ongoing basis, but indicated that further thought, and some engagement with amenity societies, was needed before any change to terms of reference or adjustment in the balance of decision-making between Planning Committees and officers.

The Committee duly RESOLVED –

(i)            to recommend Full Council to increase the Planning Committee membership ‘pool’ as set out in paragraphs 2.1-2.4; and

(ii)          to establish a Working Group comprising Cllrs. Mackover (as Chair), Gardner and North to revisit the basis upon which the changes to terms of reference were bring proposed before coming back with reasoned, revised proposals for discussing with amenity societies before being brought back to this Committee for consideration.