Report to:

Governance Committee

Date of meeting:

11 November 2025

By:

Deputy Chief Executive 

Title:

Amendment to the Constitution – Speaking to the Planning Committee

Purpose:

To consider amendments to Part 4 (Rules of Procedure) of the Council’s Constitution to update the Speaking to the Planning Committee procedure rules.

 

RECOMMENDATION:

The Governance Committee is recommended to recommend the County Council to agree to amend the Constitution as set out in Appendix 1 of this report.

 

 

1.            Background Information

 

1.1.        The Constitution includes procedure and guidance for Speaking to the Planning Committee within Part 4 (Rules of Procedure).

 

1.2.        The Constitution is kept under review, and the most recent review has identified a need to make changes in relation to which members can speak at Planning Committee as a Local Member.

 

2.            Supporting Information

 

 

2.1.        Planning Committee considers planning applications and Traffic Regulation Orders which fall within specific electoral divisions. Local County Councillors for the specific electoral divisions are invited to speak at meetings of the Planning Committee to raise points on behalf of their electoral division, often putting forward views of the residents and businesses within the division.

 

2.2.        Where the local County Councillor is unable to attend a meeting of the Planning Committee where an item within their division is being considered, they can submit their views to the Planning Committee in writing ahead of the meeting however there is not express provision to enable them to nominate an alternative County Councillor to speak at Planning Committee to represent the views of their division in their place.

 

2.3.        It is therefore proposed that the procedure and guidance for Speaking at Planning Committee is amended to expressly include provision in relation to this. So that in the event that a local County Councillor cannot attend, for reasons which may include, but are not limited to, illness or where a local County Councillor considers they have a prejudicial interest, the Local County Councillor (or Group Leader in their absence) can nominate an alternative County Councillor to speak at the Planning Committee meeting in in their place, thereby ensuring that the views of those residents and businesses in division are heard.

 

2.4.        Proposed amendments to the Constitution are set out at Appendix 1 of this report.

 

3.            Conclusion and Reason for Recommendation

3.1       This recommended amendment to the Constitution will allow for elected Local Member representation at Planning Committee meetings in the event that the Local Member cannot attend; and will help ensure that the views of residents and businesses are heard. The review also identified some presentational issues which do not change the rules but will ensure that the guidance is set out in a more accessible format.

 

 

PHILIP BAKER

Deputy Chief Executive

 

 

Contact Officer: Sophie Webb

Email: sophie.webb@eastsussex.gov.uk

Tel: 01273 337495

 

 

BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS

None