PAPER B4

Committee :    DEVELOPMENT CONTROL COMMITTEE

Date :              29 APRIL 2003

Title :              PUBLIC SPEAKING

REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF CORPORATE AND ENVIRONMENT SERVICES

SUMMARY

To review arrangements in respect of public speaking at the Development Control Committee.

OPTIONS

1.        To retain the existing arrangements.

2.        To amend the commencement time for public speaking to 5.00 pm.

BACKGROUND

Members will be aware that public speaking has now been a feature on the Committee’s agenda since August 2002. The Chairman, Vice Chairman together with officers have recently reviewed the process based on experience to date.

One area that requires consideration is of the commencement time for public speaking. At present this element of the Committee’s agenda starts at 6.00 pm. Recently due to a number of other items being considered by the Committee there have been delays in dealing with the applications upon which people have indicated a wish to speak. This means that those attending the public speaking session are often waiting for long periods of time before the Committee is able to hear their representations.

A way of overcoming this would be for public speaking to be at the start of the meeting, following Public Question Time.

FINANCIAL/LEGAL AND OTHER IMPLICATIONS

None.

BACKGROUND PAPERS

None used in the preparation of this report.

Contact Point :           Julie Martin ☎ 823281

M J A FISHER

Strategic Director of Corporate and Environment Services