The Public Participation Scheme
A Guide on how to speak at Development Control Meetings
What is the Development Control Committee?
The Development Control Committee is served by 25 District Councillors who make decisions on all applications and enforcement matters affecting the South Hams, which are published in the agenda for that meeting. (Prior to the introduction of the Councils new political structure during June 2001, this Committee was known as the Planning Committee).
What is the Public Participation Scheme?
This new scheme for the District Council encourages interested parties to come together to express their views on planning matters, by providing you with the opportunity to speak directly to the Councillors at their Development Control Committee Meetings. One objector and one supporter may speak directly to the Committee on a planning application listed on the agenda (published 5 working days before the meeting).
How do I register my wish to speak at a Development Control Committee meeting?
You must telephone, email or send a fax to Member Support Services (contact details below), indicating your request to speak, the planning application number and whether you are objecting to, or supporting the application. (You must provide your name and address).
Any such requests must be received by 12 Noon on the Monday before the Development Control Committee meeting held on the Wednesday of the same week (12 Noon on the preceding Friday if the Monday is a Bank Holiday). If there is more than one objector or supporter, you will be asked to agree amongst yourselves a spokesperson.
If you email your request to speak, you will be sent an acknowledgment that your name has been placed on the list for the next Committee.
For how long may I speak?
One objector of the planning application and one supporter may each speak for a maximum of 3 minutes. The order in which the planning applications are considered will follow the running order of planning applications listed in the published agenda for the meeting.
Who speaks first on the planning application at the Committee meeting?
For each planning application, the order of speakers will be:
- Planning Officer presenting report containing officer recommendation
- Objector
- Supporter
- Discussion by Councillors serving on the Committee (leading to their decision over the planning application).
There is no further opportunity to make representations at the meeting.
What may I speak about?
You can speak (in the form of making a statement only) on any of the planning applications listed on the agenda for that meeting although you must ensure that, whenever possible, your statement refers only to planning related issues (detailed below) as these are the only issues which the Committee can consider.
Members of the public will not be permitted to address questions to the Councillors serving on the Committee or the Planning Officers present. Members of the public will not be subjected to cross questioning. However, if necessary, the Chairman might ask you to clarify a point of fact in very exceptional circumstances.
What is a planning objection?
When considering whether to object, you should be aware that councils can only determine applications on the basis of their planning merits. Therefore you should ensure that the statement relates only to such matters as the proposal:
- being contrary to local or structure plan policies or Government advice
- allowing overlooking from windows, thereby resulting in a loss of privacy
- having a poor design and appearance or being out of keeping with the character of an old building, or having an overbearing impact on adjoining property
- resulting in the loss of important trees
- having an adverse effect on traffic, road, access visibility and parking
- resulting in noise and disturbance affecting local people
Ensure that the statement is suitable to be considered ie, that it is not derogatory to this Council or relates to matters which this Council could consider confidential.
Matters which cannot be regarded as planning considerations
- Loss of personal view from the particular property
- Loss of property value
- That the development differs from what the developer told you personally he was intending
- Disputes over land ownership
- Doubt over the integrity of the applicant
- Objections to the principle of development where an outline planning permission exists
Who do I contact for advice on what issues are considered to be planning matters?
You may be able to find the information you are looking for in a series of information leaflets, copies of which are available in Planning Reception or on this website please click here
If you still have queries, please contact Planning Reception who may be able to help or pass your enquiry to the appropriate Case Officer.
Other information:
Copies of the agenda are available to members of the public a week before the meeting (ie, the preceding Wednesday). Copies are placed in the Councilís Main Reception area at Follaton House and at its leisure centres, they are also available at public libraries within the District.
If you cannot get to any of these locations, please contact us in one of the following ways:
