Report by the Senior Solicitor and Monitoring Officer (attached).

The Committee considered a report by the Senior Solicitor and Monitoring Officer regarding the Review of the Planning Code of Conduct (circulated previously). 

The Senior Solicitor and Monitoring Officer presented the report to the Committee and confirmed that:

·         The review had come about following comments from Planning Barrister, Tim Leader, of St John’s Chambers. During a training session, the barrister had questioned elements of the Council’s Planning Code of Conduct, which led to it being reviewed in full. The reviewed Planning Code of Conduct had taken on board the comments made by Mr Leader, and had been presented to the Chair and Vice Chair of the Planning Committee, and the Lead Member. Their comments had been incorporated into the amended code.

The Committee discussed the instances at which a member of the Planning Committee would be required to declare an interest in an application, and whether they would be required to remove themselves from the Planning Committee meeting whilst an item was being considered.

RECOMMEND that the Review of the Planning Code of Conduct, in Part 5 of the Constitution, be approved as at Appendix A to the committee report by Full Council.