What would you say was the average number of public speakers at planning meetings over the past year? 10? 15 perhaps?  It’s actually 1.5.

Councillor Graham Troman presented his research on this to last night’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSC), in the debate on how to shorten the length of the currently unwieldy planning meetings. Reducing the number of public speakers was one suggestion in Cllr Bloxham’s proposals for resolving the problem.

Cllr Troman found that between May 2013 and April 2014 (i.e. the latest twelve-month period), there were 165 applications heard by the Development Management, with 249 contributors (including parish councillors) to public question time (maximum of 3 minutes allowed per speaker)…so an average of 1.5 public speakers per planning application.

But these complicated calculations seemed all too much for Cllr Key to take on board. He remarked that Cllr Troman had “overestimated himself” , and that an average of 2 people was more accurate.

Which left more than one of his fellow councillors wondering, “If he doesn’t understand 1.5, does he understand 4.5 minutes (= the time limit for 1.5 public speakers)?

After a rather rambling discussion, which jumped from one agenda item to another, and saw a marked division in voting between the majority party (not all of whom spoke), and the other councillors, the motion to have new rules on speaking was passed., with some amendments.  Amongst these were: listing and publishing in advance, the precise material planning applications to be addressed; introducing a buzzer system for time limits to speaking; insisting on pre-application for public questions; and stronger powers for the DMC Chair.

Cllr Bloxham’s report will now go to Cabinet, and then back to Full Council for approval.

Cllr Key made clear his view of the public, in this comment he made at tonight’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee. He left the Knowle Chamber smiling broadly, after he and his like-minded colleagues had voted in favour of restrictions to public speaking, as a solution to overlong Development Management Committee meetings.

More details to follow.

As reported in the Sidmouth Herald, 11th May 2014, charges against Newton Poppleford Councillor Graham Salter,  for alleged non-declaration of a disclosable pecuniary interest (DPI) concerning the controversial King Alfred Way planning application , were dismissed by the police.

Nevertheless, Councillor Salter has been called to appear before an EDDC disciplinary committee tomorrow morning (see http://www.eastdevon.gov.uk/standards_hearing_sub_committee_agenda_150514.pdf )

This may well fuel the widespread suspicion that the allegations against him are linked to his vigorous criticism of the process by which the Clinton Devon Estates application was brought forward.

Some have also pointed out that the requirement to declare a DPI was intended to prevent councillors from making personal gain from planning decisions. As the Herald report mentions, who exactly brought the charges against Councillor Salter, remains unclear.

This Thursday’s Standards Sub-Committee minutes are awaited with interest.

The meeting, at Knowle, begins at 6.30pm on Thursday. Details at this link: http://www.eastdevon.gov.uk/os_agenda_150514_combined.pdf

The Council is seeking ways to reduce the length of some meetings, which have become unwieldy, particularly those including major planning applications. What is the best solution? Does the heart of the problem lie with too much participation from the public, or is it a question of better management required (e.g. advance notification and brief precision about the planning matters which can be addressed; avoidance of repetition and overlong reviews of officer reports, etc) .

This is a sensitive issue in the run up to the 2015 elections.