Should planning applications be determined

a) within nationally agreed timescales?
b) to fit in with councillors' holiday plans?

http://www.newburytoday.co.uk/News/Article.aspx?articleID=17707

More questions....

Are they all going on holiday together?
If so, where should we avoid?
Why do these campaigning councillors prefer to lie on a sunbed rather than cancel their hols?

I would say a). That planning meeting was scheduled months ago, as was the exec meeting the following night. If you don't want to miss important council business, do not book a holiday to clash with it.

Quoted from richard.garvie

I would say a). That planning meeting was scheduled months ago, as was the exec meeting the following night. If you don't want to miss important council business, do not book a holiday to clash with it.

"Council planning officers were aware that several committee members ... would be away for the committee meeting when the date for determination was set several weeks ago."

Quoted from richard.garvie

I would say a). That planning meeting was scheduled months ago, as was the exec meeting the following night. If you don't want to miss important council business, do not book a holiday to clash with it.

Are you saying that the councillors booked their holidays after the date was announced (many people book holidays almost a year in advance!)

Did you have a point B?  Then again did you really have a point A!

Meetings are scheduled months and months in advance, although the agenda only comes up a few weeks in advance. If you want be a councillor, you should take your holiday during the time set aside by officers for you to do so. If you decide to book a holiday and the agenda turns out to be important, it's tough luck I'm afraid. I think the Tories made a big concession here, fair play to them on this one.

Quoted from richard.garvie

Meetings are scheduled months and months in advance, although the agenda only comes up a few weeks in advance. If you want be a councillor, you should take your holiday during the time set aside by officers for you to do so. If you decide to book a holiday and the agenda turns out to be important, it's tough luck I'm afraid. I think the Tories made a big concession here, fair play to them on this one.

Did they really?

Quoted from Greenham Common

Did they really?

Yes.  They moved a long planned meeting so the holidaying councillors could attend.

Quoted from blackdog

Yes.  They moved a long planned meeting so the holidaying councillors could attend.

Is that a big concession?

Quoted from Greenham Common

Is that a big concession?

I would say so.

Quoted from blackdog

I would say so.

Like it cost others time and money?

Quoted from Greenham Common

Like it cost others time and money?

It delayed the whole planning process by a month, so therefore it's a concession. The council could have gone ahead with the meeting, but instead they postponed a pre planned meeting because of holidaying councillors. It winds me up that said councillors were not so bothered about missing the exec meeting, aren't we paying these people to attend meetings to represent us through council tax?

Quoted from richard.garvie

It delayed the whole planning process by a month, so therefore it's a concession. The council could have gone ahead with the meeting, but instead they postponed a pre planned meeting because of holidaying councillors. It winds me up that said councillors were not so bothered about missing the exec meeting, aren't we paying these people to attend meetings to represent us through council tax?

To be fair they are members of the minority party so their presence at Exec Meetings is, essentially, superfluous.

But they represent the taxpayers!! They are supposed to be attending for the purpose of holding the council to account. I'm sorry, maybe I am completely unrealistic as to what is required of a councillor recieving around £10k a year of taxpayers money. There is a holiday period, a very generous period at that. If they want to fly away outside of that time, they are simply showing a lack of regard for council business, whether it be something in their ward, a big project like the racecourse plans or whatever.

Quoted from richard.garvie

But they represent the taxpayers!! They are supposed to be attending for the purpose of holding the council to account. I'm sorry, maybe I am completely unrealistic as to what is required of a councillor recieving around £10k a year of taxpayers money. There is a holiday period, a very generous period at that. If they want to fly away outside of that time, they are simply showing a lack of regard for council business, whether it be something in their ward, a big project like the racecourse plans or whatever.

How can they hold the council to account at a meeting where they are outvoted 2 to 1 at every opportunity?

Quoted from richard.garvie

Meetings are scheduled months and months in advance, although the agenda only comes up a few weeks in advance. If you want be a councillor, you should take your holiday during the time set aside by officers for you to do so. If you decide to book a holiday and the agenda turns out to be important, it's tough luck I'm afraid. I think the Tories made a big concession here, fair play to them on this one.

Pointless distraction anyway regarding the council meetings, Business is not done at the council meetings anyway - all sorted out beforehand behind closed doors. The Newbury few inform the pet Councillors of what they want - pet councillors then go and produce it.

Council meetings are there only for public display and for councillors to say - see this is why we are required and are worth the money.
Just a game of charades really.

As others have stated it would not matter one jot if the councillors went off on holiday. Just leave a memo to be read out by the Chairman stating they object and why - job done - taxpayers money saved on expenses for attending meeting.  Pat on the back from Newbury few for pet Councillors etc!  Newbury democracy at it's best. Same as it ever was!