Issue - items at meetings - Training for Planning Committee Members

Joint report of the Director of Environment and the Director of Strategy & Governance (copy attached).

RESOLVED –

(1)         That the Committee supports:

(i)                 mandatory training for all members of the Planning pool be introduced on a six-monthly basis;

(ii)               the training to be open to all other Members to attend on a non-mandatory basis;

(iii)             mandatory development sessions being offered on at least two different time slots to take account of Members’ other commitments;

(2)         That the proposals be recommended to Full Council for approval.

(3)         That, subject to the approval of Full Council,  the requirement for ongoing mandatory planning training every six months should come into force with effect from 16 July 2010 and that the first mandatory session be arranged as quickly as possible.

15.1               The Committee considered a joint report of the Directors of Environment and Strategy & Governance, concerning the proposed introduction of bi-annual mandatory training sessions for Members serving on or wishing to serve on the Planning Committee.

15.2               CouncillorSimson welcomed the report and stated that it was important for the Planning Committee to have all the necessary tools to make robust decisions. She highlighted the cost of the training and advised that it would be necessary to ensure that a range of dates and times were offered to ensure that all Members of Committee and the pool of substitutes could attend.

15.3               Councillor Kennedy spoke in support of the increased training and advised that the policy framework around planning was changing rapidly making it vital that Members understood both local and national policy. She advised that she hoped investing in training would reduce the resources spent on defending challenges to decisions and commended the Chairman of the Planning Committee, the Head of Developmental Control and the Planning Team for taking the matter forward.

15.4               Councillor Mitchell welcomed the proposals and reiterated the need for flexibility in training dates and times in order to accommodate all Members.

15.5               The Chairman advised that he was confident that officers would ensure that dates would be flexible.

15.6               RESOLVED –

(1)         That the Committee gives its support for:

(i)           mandatory training for all members of the Planning pool be introduced on a six-monthly basis;

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(ii)         the training to be open to all other Members to attend on a non-mandatory basis;

(iii)       mandatory development sessions being offered on at least two different time slots to take account of Members’ other commitments;

(2)         That the proposals be recommended to Full Council for approval.

(3)         That, subject to the approval of Full Council,  the requirement for ongoing mandatory planning training every six months should come into force with effect from 16 July 2010 and that the first mandatory session be arranged as quickly as possible.