Issue - meetings

The West of England Local Enterprise Partnership Board asked the Infrastructure and Place Group to consider ways of overcoming negative perceptions of the planning process to the benefit of all parties, including the identification of procedures which could be applied more consistently. The IPG have recommended the publication of a planning toolkit to promote a positive and consistent approach to handling large scale planning applications.  The Cabinets of all four WoE authorities are asked to endorse the toolkit in time for their next meeting in April.  In order to meet this timetable, the report is being brought to Cabinet under the Special Urgency (Rule 16) provisions in the Council's Constitution, with the agreement of the Chair of the relevant PDS Chair and Leader of the Council, and following advice from the statutory officers.

Councillor Tim Ball moved the recommendations.  He explained that this was an enabling decision, which would allow the 4 authorities to work together on preparing a toolkit.

Councillor Roger Symonds agreed that the 4 authorities must be able to work together on a common toolkit, and seconded the proposal.

On a motion from Councillor Tim Ball, seconded by Councillor Roger Symonds, it was

RESOLVED (unanimously)

(1) To ADOPT the West of England Planning Toolkit and report its agreement to the next West of England Infrastructure and Place Group meeting.