Councillors and members of the public were advised by the Chairman that the order of business would be varied and considered as follows:

After 10.00am: 6, 7, 8, 9, 12 and 13

After 1.30pm: 16, 10, 14, 15 and 17

Following the lunch break, the afternoon session the order of business was as follows:

Items 12, 13, 16, 10, 14, 15 and 17

The Chairman reminded Councillors and members of the public to silence their mobile phones for the duration of the meeting.

The Chairman reminded Councillors and members of the public that the meeting would be filmed and available for viewing on the Council’s website.

The Chairman advised that a site inspection had been undertaken by most of the Committee in respect of all of the applications on the agenda.

Subject to declarable interests all Members of the Committee have the right to  vote on all matters of business considered by the Committee.

Rule No. 13.5.5 of the Constitution states that Members do not vote or take part in the meeting’s discussions on a proposal unless they have been present to hear the entire debate, including the officer’s introduction to the matter.

The Chairman, under Part E3 paragraph 9.2 has a second or casting vote should there be equal number of votes for and against an item.  This provision makes it quite clear that the Chairman is entitled to vote on any item of business.  There is no restriction or limitation on how the second or casting vote should be exercised nor is there a requirement that the right be exercised at all.

The Chairman read the following two statements:

1.         At the Council’s Executive meeting on 6 October 2015, Members resolved to recommend to Full Council that the Development Strategy be withdrawn.  The recommendation is expected to be considered by Full Council on 19 November 2015.  Until the Executive decision is ratified by Full Council, and the Development Strategy is formally withdrawn, the weight afforded to the Development Strategy as a policy document should be adjusted accordingly in the determination of planning applications.  In this respect, where relevant, Officers will highlight any implications of the Executive resolution which this Committee should be aware of in making their decision.

2.         The Council is required to have a 5 year deliverable supply of land to meet the future housing needs of Central Bedfordshire. 

If it does not, policies which are relevant to the supply of housing are considered out of date.  In such cases the National Planning Policy presumption in favour of sustainable development is applied (para. 49 NPPF).  We have recently lost two appeals where both Inspectors concluded that the Council did not have a five year supply of deliverable housing land.  The appeals were allowed because the developments were shown to be sustainable with few adverse impacts.

The issue of 5 year housing land supply is a key material planning consideration based on fact and must be given significant weight in any Council decision.

For decision making this means that development shall be granted permission unless the adverse impact of doing so would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits of the scheme.