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23

Aug 2023

Last Updated: 23/08/2023
Environment
Environment

Concerns over lack of planning applications going before Harrogate and Knaresborough councillors

by Thomas Barrett Local Democracy Reporter

| 23 Aug, 2023
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haslammarsh
Cllr Paul Haslam and Cllr Pat Marsh.

The chair and vice chair of the Harrogate and Knaresborough planning committee have raised concerns about the number of applications being decided by councillors after another meeting was cancelled.

In April, North Yorkshire Council created six planning committees organised by parliamentary constituency areas where a group of cross-party councillors meet about once every six weeks to approve, refuse or defer large or controversial planning applications.

Previous planning committees organised by Harrogate Borough Council would regularly have an agenda of three or more applications for councillors to debate.

However, next week’s Harrogate and Knaresborough planning committee has been cancelled, as was July’s meeting, due to a lack of suitable applications.

The issue is countywide and the Local Democracy Reporting Service has reported similar concerns from councillors on the committees in Skipton and Ripon and in Scarborough.

Councillors are able to ‘call in’ contentious applications in their areas so it goes to committee but only if there are sound planning reasons.

The Harrogate and Knaresborough committee chair, Pat Marsh, who represents Stray, Woodlands and Hookstone for the Liberal Democrats, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that she wants to see councillors more involved in the planning process. 

Cllr Marsh said:

“My concern for a very long time is the scheme of delegation in which officers make the decisions on certain applications without needing to refer it to committee. 
“I have raised this point at a meeting at Northallerton. I would like the scheme to be reviewed to make sure democratically elected councillors are more involved in planning.”


The committee’s vice-chair, Conservative councillor for Bilton and Nidd Gorge, Paul Haslam, said he was awaiting feedback from officers into why the number of applications going to committee has decreased.

Cllr Haslam said: 

“The reduction in planning applications going to planning committee has been reported across the whole of North Yorkshire Council. Clearly this needs to be checked to see whether this is an anomaly with applications or that the process of delegation is not quite right.
“It’s been picked up and is being reviewed currently. Feedback to councillors is expected shortly to tell us what’s changed, why it has changed and what modifications need to be made. Councillor inspection of all council activities is a crucial part of the democratic process."


Nic Harne, North Yorkshire Council’s corporate director of community development, said: 

“Under the council’s constitution, there are a range of specified types of applications that need to be considered by a planning committee.
“In addition, if any member believes that an application raises significant material planning issues, they can request such an application be considered by committee.
“Furthermore, senior officers can also refer applications to councillors.
“It is our aim to ensure that all items that should be considered by members are put in front of committees. Since April, all the area planning committees and the strategic committee have met and have considered more than 40 applications.
“We are committed to keeping the scheme of delegation under review and we are carefully monitoring the number of items going to committee and requests for call in by councillors.
“We are aiming to ensure that decisions are made in the right way and will be making recommendations to councillors based on evidence from the first 12 months of the new council.
“As is common in the summer months, delays in getting information from applicants and consultees meant that there were no applications ready to be put before councillors at the Harrogate and Knaresborough constituency planning committee scheduled for 29 August.
“As such, the meeting has been cancelled.”