Speak at a development management Committee

Speaking gives you the chance to say why you think the application should be approved or refused and to stress the issues you consider being most important.

We will send invitations to speak to everyone who has made written comments during the consultation period.

If you wish to speak then you should respond to the invitation before the date indicated. It is recommended that you respond by telephone to the clerk of the relevant Committee, whose number will be given in the invitation. They will advise you of the procedure and notify the chairman of the panel of your intent.

If you do not respond to the invitation then you will not be allowed to speak at the Committee meeting.

You should have already set out your comments in the letter or email you sent us. We will summarise these in our report.

It is not helpful to introduce new issues when speaking to the Committee. 

Please do not refer to non-planning issues that the Committee cannot take into account. For example:

• The effect on property value,
• The loss of a view,
• The behaviour, morals or motives of the person applying for, or objecting to, planning permission.

If people are due to speak on an application, we will move it to the start of the meeting. We will give each person a time limit in which to speak. This will help to reduce the length of time that everyone has to wait before speaking.

You should ensure you are present at the Committee when you are invited to speak. Should you not be present at the appropriate time you will lose the opportunity to be heard.