Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council

Help  | Site Index  | Site Map  | Printer Friendly Version  | Change Contrast

Planning Committee - Speaking at the Committee

The Council has introduced a system for people wishing to speak either in support of or objecting to an application at Planning Committee. This procedure does not apply to applications determined by Officers of the Council, often referred to as decisions determined under ‘delegated powers’.

The definitive list of applications for consideration by the Planning Committee is available five working days before the meeting, although occasionally items may be withdrawn at short notice or deferred after the list is published. Please contact the Committee Administrator to find out if the application is on the list of applications to be considered. If it is please advise us whether you wish to speak, stating whether you are in support of or object to the proposal. You can telephone, e-mail or write to us (see contact details below), however please note that any requests to speak must be received no later than 12 noon on the day of the meeting.

The Committee meets at the Civic Centre commencing at 6.00pm. The agenda for each meeting is open for public inspection at the ‘ContactOldham’ One-Stop Shop at the Cheapside Entrance Civic Centre, West Street, Oldham and all main Libraries.

You can also view Planning Committee agendas and minutes here.

What to do if you wish to speak

• The number of speakers for each application is limited to two - one objector (or their agent) and the applicant (or his/her agent).
• It is important to inform the Committee Services Officer as soon as possible if you wish to speak to the Committee since only the first person to do so will normally be invited to speak.
• Speakers are allowed to speak for up to 3 minutes to state their case. This time period is strictly enforced to ensure every application is fairly considered. Speakers can make comment on the application only and can not put questions to the Committee.
• Where a number of objectors have requested to speak the Committee Administrator will require a nominated speaker to be chosen, failing which the first person to have informed us of a wish to speak will be invited to speak to the Committee.

The procedure for considering planning applications

• The order of the agenda for the Committee will be varied on the night to allow those applications where people wish to speak to be considered at the beginning of the meeting.
• The Committee has a report on each application which sets out all material considerations and include an Officer recommendation.
• The Planning Officer will introduce the report and will report any matters that have arisen since the publication of the report, for example the receipt of further letters that are listed on a Supplementary Information List (which may be referred to as the ‘Late list’).
• The Chair then invites the objector or a representative (if any) to address the Committee.
• Members can, at the completion of the presentation, ask questions to the objector or representative of the objectors to clarify any points that have been made.
• The Chair will then invite the applicant or a representative of the applicant to speak in support of the application and allow him/her to comment on issues raised by objectors.
• Members may ask the applicant/representative of the applicant questions to clarify the proposals or their response to the objections.
• The Planning and/or other Officers such as Highway Engineers (as appropriate) will be invited to comment on issues raised by the speakers.
• The Committee will then debate the issues and may ask the Planning and other Officers questions and make, in the majority of cases, a decision on the application (but see below).

Deferred applications

Occasionally, an application may be deferred by the Committee without debate of the issues, for example because further information is awaited; in such cases, speakers will not be permitted to address the Committee, but will be invited to speak when the application is debated at a future meeting.

If Committee defers the application after the hearing of a speaker or speakers, to enable for example, a site visit, speakers will not be allowed to address Committee at a future meeting unless the application has been materially altered. Speakers will be notified in writing of the determination of the application.

Members of the public are not allowed to take part in the debate nor question Members, Officers or applicants whilst the Committee is determining the application.

Anyone arriving after an application has been dealt with, will not be allowed to speak on that application.

Other Planning matters dealt with by other Council Committees - Public question time

The Council operates a public question time for the Cabinet, Overview and Scrutiny Committees, Area Committees and the Planning Committee.

With regard to the Planning Committee, questions will be accepted relating to general planning issues and procedures but NOT about individual planning applications or enforcement matters.

Questions must be submitted in writing to the Committee Services Officer as set out below no later than 12 Noon on the day before the meeting (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays).

Questioners will be permitted to speak for up to three minutes. This period will be strictly enforced.

Any Member of the Committee is permitted to speak on any question, then the Chair of the Committee will give a verbal response to the question/questions at the meeting. The Chairman's response will be confirmed to the questioner in writing within five working days of the meeting.

Questions relating to the review of the Oldham Unitary Development Plan should be directed to the Cabinet. Questions regarding individual planning matters/applications should be addressed to the Council’s Planning Officers, Environmental Services Directorate, Tel. No. 770 4105 in the first instance and, if appropriate, at the public participation stage.

Contact us

Constitutional Services:
Donna Parker
Tel: 0161 770 4728
Email: donna.parker@oldham.gov.uk

Planning enquires:
Ask for the Duty Officer or the Case Officer
Tel: 0161 770 4105
E-mail: planning@oldham.gov.uk

Building & Planning:

Search

Advanced Search