I don't understand why, in the Probity in Planning (PAS) document it
states that Development Proposals submitted by councillors etc. must
go to Committee (rather than be delegated). Surely this should only
apply if the officer recommendation is for Approval? If the officer
recommendation is for Refusal, then automatically (in the absence of
any other reason) sending it to committee, gives the (in house)
applicant an extra opportunity to gain approval (via the committee).
This 'second chance' for Approval is generally denied to the public
& potentially creates an 'unhealthy' committee decision i.e. if
the committee overturns the officer refusal in favour of one of their
'peers'. Surely the advice should be that any such (in house)
applications should only be sent to committee (& thereby heard in
public) if the officer recommendation is for Approval. Refusals can
surely be a delegated decision. This would also avoiding wasting
expensive committee time. Is their anything in law (not guidance) to
stop a council adopting this procedure, on both ethical and efficiency grounds?
