Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillors H M Brand, J P Bowker, G Dinsdale, S J Fielding and F McFarland.

There were no declarations of interest by Members.

There were no declarations of interest by Officers.

Resolved that the minutes of the meeting held on 15^th November 2023 be approved.

Resolved that the minutes of the Planning Consultation Group on 13^th November 2023 be received.

Resolved that the minutes of the Planning Consultation Group on 27^th November 2023 be received.

Resolved that the Outstanding Minutes List be received.

None.

(Ms B Alderton-Sambrook, Head of Regeneration, has deemed that all Items on the Agenda are not confidential).

The Head of Regeneration determined that all items on the agenda are non-confidential.

Members were presented with the first appeal decision.

Resolved that the appeal decision be received.

Members were presented with the second appeal decision.

Resolved that the appeal decision be received.

The Planning Development Manager delivered a summary of the report into the Scheme of Delegation for Determining Planning Applications.

Members were advised that Bassetlaw District Council has received notification of the submission of three Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP) to the Planning Inspectorate that will require Local Authority input in the role of host authority. NSIPs are considered by the Planning Inspectorate for ultimate decision by the Secretary of State. This is known as a Development Consent Order (DCO) process and sits outside the realms of the Town and Country Planning Act. The role of the Local Authority within the DCO process is set out within the Planning Act 2008. The report sets out the role that the Local Authority will undertake in the DCO process and proposes a route for decision making and officer delegation.

The Planning Development Manager explained that during the DCO process and specifically the examination stage, there will be numerous deadlines for local authorities to submit further representations which will require a swift response. Members were advised Planning Inspectorate guidance for Local Authorities suggests that there will not be time within the process to seek committee approval for all required responses and representations.

Members were presented with the following two options;

1.    Agree to the recommendation to delegate the representations of the Local Planning Authority to NSIPs to the Head of Regeneration which will ensure the timely submission of representations by the Local Planning Authority.

2.    Require documents such as the Statement of Common Ground, Local Impact Reports and Written Representations to be approved by Planning Committee prior to submission to the Planning Inspectorate, which may not meet the deadlines set by the Planning Inspectorate unless Extraordinary Planning Committees are to be scheduled.

Members responded with questions making reference to the timescale and technicalities of the DCO process and expressed concerns over the extent to which Members and the general public will be consulted throughout the various stages.

These questions and comments were addressed by the Head of Regeneration and Planning Development Manager.

Members deliberated over the two options presented and put forward other suggestions for the Officers to consider.

An elected Member proposed to defer the decision to the next Planning Committee. This was seconded by another Member and a vote was taken.

Resolved that:

1.    The final decision to be deferred to the next Planning Committee scheduled in January 2024.  

None.

None.

As there was no other urgent business, the Chair closed the meeting.