Planning

Representation: Caroline Aldridge | Tony Bowley | Andrew Harland | Jane Makower Mather | Debbie Page (KEPC)

There are also 3 non-councillor members of the Sub-Committee, drawn from the membership of the former Neighbourhood Development Plan Working Party.
Sue Biggs | Lyn Stewart-Ashley | Anna Vorster (non KEPC)

The law requires that district councils notify parish councils of the existence of
planning applications relating to the parish concerned. Parish councils are not strictly
speaking statutory consultees on planning applications, but the District Council has,
since 1974, supplied a copy of all relevant applications to parish councils, and invited
their comments thereon. In return, the District Council expects parish councils to
ensure that affected neighbours are aware of the contents of an application.

Please note that, since March 2020, no hard copies of applications are received.
As the District Council requires comments of parish councils on applications within 21
days of their despatch to the parish councils, the Council has, for the past 40+ years,
relied upon a Plans Sub-Committee to consider applications, between meetings of the
Council.

There has, in the past, habitually been 5+ members of the Plans Committee, in order that there is at least one councillor from each of the 5 settlements – Cane End, Chalkhouse Green, Gallowstree Common, Kidmore End and
Tokers Green.

In 1996, the Council adopted the following method of operation for the Plans Sub-
Committee:
a. Clerk passes applications, as soon as possible after receipt, to member of Plans
Sub-Committee for settlement concerned.
b. That member of Sub-Committee, in consultation with other members of the
Sub-Committee (if felt appropriate), inspects site and seeks to show application
to neighbours of site.
c. If felt appropriate by that member of the Sub-Committee, he/she requests
Clerk to refer application to full Council.
d. Otherwise, that member of Sub-Committee submits appropriate comments to
Clerk, for onward transmission to District Council.
e. The Council is invited to endorse comments submitted at its next meeting.
f. Clerk sends any subsequent invitation to address the Planning Committee of the
District Council to relevant member of Sub-Committee.
g. That member of Sub-Committee decides, in consultation with Chairman of
Council, whether opportunity to speak is to be taken.
h. If opportunity is to be taken, that member of sub-committee acts as
spokesperson, or arranges for another member of Sub-Committee to perform
that role.