Agenda item

This Council regrets the administration’s decision to stop publishing public comments on planning applications on the Council’s website. Council believes this will reduce openness and transparency in the planning process, making it less visible and accessible to the people of Leeds.

Council views this trial, introduced at short notice and without full consultation, as typical of an administration that too often acts without proper regard for the people of Leeds, and which seems to view consultation as a box-ticking exercise rather than a genuine opportunity to listen and engage.

This Council calls for an immediate end to the trial and for comments to appear on the planning portal once again. Council further calls for a report to be brought to Executive Board setting out a renewed approach to all council consultations, one that genuinely listens and responds to the views of Leeds residents, and places openness and transparency at the heart of the process.

It was moved by Councillor Lamb, seconded by Councillor Amanda Carter that 

this Council regrets the administration’s decision to stop publishing public comments on planning applications on the Council’s website. Council believes this will reduce openness and transparency in the planning process, making it less visible and accessible to the people of Leeds.

Council views this trial, introduced at short notice and without full consultation, as typical of an administration that too often acts without proper regard for the people of Leeds, and which seems to view consultation as a box-ticking exercise rather than a genuine opportunity to listen and engage.

This Council calls for an immediate end to the trial and for comments to appear on the planning portal once again. Council further calls for a report to be brought to Executive Board setting out a renewed approach to all council consultations, one that genuinely listens and responds to the views of Leeds residents, and places openness and transparency at the heart of the process.

An amendment was moved by Councillor Carlisle, seconded by Councillor Stables

After “Council” in the first sentence insert the following:

“recognises the double impact of ongoing cuts from central government, and also loss of revenue due to the economic downturn, upon its financial stability and operational capacity. However, Council”

Delete all after “without full consultation,” in the second paragraph and replace with:

“as typifying a steady social and political drift – not particular to Leeds – which treats consultation as a box-ticking exercise, rather than a genuine opportunity to listen and engage; Council believes that Leeds can and should do better, and buck that trend.”

The amended White Paper would thus read:

“This Council recognises the double impact of ongoing cuts from central government, and also loss of revenue due to the economic downturn, upon its financial stability and operational capacity. However, Council regrets the administration’s decision to stop publishing public comments on planning applications on the Council’s website. Council believes this will reduce openness and transparency in the planning process, making it less visible and accessible to the people of Leeds.

Council views this trial, introduced at short notice and without full consultation, as typifying a steady social and political drift – not particular to Leeds – which treats consultation as a box-ticking exercise, rather than a genuine opportunity to listen and engage; Council believes that Leeds can and should do better, and buck that trend.

This Council calls for an immediate end to the trial and for comments to appear on the planning portal once again. Council further calls for a report to be brought to Executive Board setting out a renewed approach to all council consultations, one that genuinely listens and responds to the views of Leeds residents, and places openness and transparency at the heart of the process.”

A second amendment was moved by Councillor Hayden, seconded by Councillor Brooks

Delete all and replace with:

“This Council notes the decision to stop publishing 3^rd party public representations on Public Access from 6 June is for an initial six-month trial period, while still enabling members of the public to comment on planning applications.

Council notes the trial is due to an increase in vociferous public comments on the platform discouraging some residents from commenting on planning applications due to fear of repercussions. Council is concerned by reports the platform has received antagonistic correspondence between applicants and objectors, meaning planning officers had to spend time redacting, publishing and responding to complaints on Public Access rather than assessing planning applications.

Council believes its record over many years shows it values high quality, transparent consultation as a method to engage with the people of Leeds. Recent examples of consultation exercises contributing significantly to key policy development include but are not limited to:

·  The Children and Young People’s Plan Refresh which captured the voices of 80,000 children and young people,

·  The Health and Wellbeing Strategy Refresh which took into account the Big Leeds Chat , an innovative approach to consultation which involved 43 in-person discussion forums open to all people take place with both geographical communities, communities of interest and young people organisations.

·  The Council’s climate change plans, developed through the Big Leeds Climate Conversation with input from close to 8000 Leeds residents.

·  The Connecting Leeds Transport Strategy which was developed with input from over 4,500 contributions.

·  The Leeds Local Plan 2040 which is being developed with input from over 1000 contributions

Council notes planning services at councils across the country have been negatively impacted by 13 years of failed Conservative Government austerity, meaning an increasing number of councils have been forced to cut back on non-statutory responsibilities, such as the publication of 3^rd party public representations on planning applications.

Council further notes the results of the trial will be examined by the relevant Scrutiny Board to see what impact the change has had on public engagement in the planning process and Council confirms its commitment to implementing the outcome of the trial process.”

The amendment in the name of Councillor Carlisle was declared lost the amendment in the name of Councillor Hayden was carried and upon being put to the vote it was

RESOLVED - That this Council notes the decision to stop publishing 3^rd party public representations on Public Access from 6 June is for an initial six-month trial period, while still enabling members of the public to comment on planning applications.

Council notes the trial is due to an increase in vociferous public comments on the platform discouraging some residents from commenting on planning applications due to fear of repercussions. Council is concerned by reports the platform has received antagonistic correspondence between applicants and objectors, meaning planning officers had to spend time redacting, publishing and responding to complaints on Public Access rather than assessing planning applications.

Council believes its record over many years shows it values high quality, transparent consultation as a method to engage with the people of Leeds. Recent examples of consultation exercises contributing significantly to key policy development include but are not limited to:

·  The Children and Young People’s Plan Refresh which captured the voices of 80,000 children and young people,

·  The Health and Wellbeing Strategy Refresh which took into account the Big Leeds Chat , an innovative approach to consultation which involved 43 in-person discussion forums open to all people take place with both geographical communities, communities of interest and young people organisations.

· The Council’s climate change plans, developed through the Big Leeds Climate Conversation with input from close to 8000 Leeds residents.

·  The Connecting Leeds Transport Strategy which was developed with input from over 4,500 contributions.

· The Leeds Local Plan 2040 which is being developed with input from over 1000 contributions

Council notes planning services at councils across the country have been negatively impacted by 13 years of failed Conservative Government austerity, meaning an increasing number of councils have been forced to cut back on non-statutory responsibilities, such as the publication of 3^rd party public representations on planning applications.

Council further notes the results of the trial will be examined by the relevant Scrutiny Board to see what impact the change has had on public engagement in the planning process and Council confirms its commitment to implementing the outcome of the trial process.”