Speaking at planning committee

Up to ten people per application will be permitted to speak (five in favour and five against) at each committee meeting

You should email andrea.griffiths@gloucestershire.gov.uk or telephone 01452 324206 9.30am the day after the papers are made publicly available to register to speak at the meeting. You will not be allowed to speak unless you have done this.

You must email written questions four clear working days before the meeting to andrea.griffiths@gloucestershire.gov.uk   

Because the planning committee deals with large and often controversial or complicated planning applications, we must limit the number of speakers and the time given to speak. You must also follow the rules for speaking at planning committee, which you will find below.

• You will be allowed to speak for no more than four minutes.
• You may make hand written notes of the meeting, but must not record or broadcast the proceedings.
• You must not introduce new information (such as photographs or plans) to the meeting.
• You must not attempt to speak to, or pass messages to, any member of the committee.
• Please try to keep what you say to 'material planning considerations' (this is what is in the public interest rather than the private interest).
• Remember all developments must be judged as if they have a right to get planning permission. This is called 'presumption in favour'.
• You must not say anything about someone that is not true. You are not protected from legal action by being in the council chamber.
• Putting your comments in an email to the case officer is often a much better way to get your views across. A full report and recommendation accompany every item that goes to the committee. Write early enough and the case officer will build your comments into the report. Alternatively it will be available online three working days before the meeting.

• Up to five objecting speakers may speak for up to four minutes each
• Up to five supporting speakers may speak for up to four minutes each
• The applicant or his agent may speak for up to five minutes
• The parish council representative may speak for up to five minutes
• The district council representative may speak for up to five minutes

Only councillors and officers of the committee may speak after this point

• The local county councillor has the opportunity to give his/her views
• Councillors question the case officer and debate the proposal before they make a decision

We usually hold a planning committee every two months, and we arrange for a members site visit approximately seven days before the committee. We hold all meetings in the council chamber at Shire Hall in Gloucester. If we expect a large attendance at committee, we will issue tickets for the public gallery at main reception, Shire Hall, on a first come, first served basis. Find details of the next planning committee