Have your say about a planning application

Go straight to:

• Introduction
• Webcasting / broadcasting of meetings
• What to do if you want to speak at Planning Committee
• Contacting Development Management (Planning)
• What if more than one person wants to speak
• Sharing documents and correspondence
• What happens on the day?
• What should you talk about?

Introduction

There are several ways you can have your say about a planning application.

You can comment directly online or by emailing or writing to the Development Management (Planning) section. You can find out more in the 'object, support or comment on a planning application' section on the search and comment on Planning applications web page. It is important that you do this before the deadline for comments, which will be set out in the notice about the application.

You can also ask your local county councillor to write or speak on your behalf. You can find out who your local councillor is online or from our offices, libraries, or by telephoning 01824 706727.

21 of our 48 councillors are members of the Planning Committee. Please remember that members of the Planning Committee are not able to declare their position publicly on a planning application before it is considered by the committee, as they would not then be allowed to speak or vote on the application.

We run a scheme to allow those with an interest in an application, including objectors, supporters, town and community councils, applicants and agents, to speak at the Planning Committee, following the guidelines set out below.

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Webcasting / broadcasting of meetings

The Council has agreed that certain meetings of the Planning Committee may be broadcast live on the internet (webcasting) (external website) or recorded for later transmission. There are cameras in the council chamber for this purpose. When doing this, the Council will ensure it complies with the Data Protection Act 2018 and the Human Rights Act 1998.

A notice on the agenda and the Chair at the meeting will make it clear that, while the public seating areas are generally not filmed, by entering the meeting room and using the public seating area, members of the public are consenting to being filmed and to the possible use of those images and sound recordings for webcasting and/or training purposes. Those expected to speak publicly will have the process explained to them.

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What to do if you want to speak at the planning committee

The invitation to speak and the conduct of the meeting is at the discretion of the Chair of the Planning Committee and subject to the guidelines set out below.

You may speak only if the planning application is on the committee agenda. A range of applications are decided by officers under delegated powers, although any comments made on an application will be taken into account in reaching a decision.

Only one member of the public may speak for and only one against an application. The Chair of the committee may exercise discretion to allow a second speaker, but only in exceptional circumstances when, for example, a major application generates many different views.

You must notify the planning section of your request to speak as soon as possible before the meeting, but in any event by no later than 4:30pm on the Monday before the Wednesday when the Planning Committee will be held. You will need to leave a daytime telephone number so we can contact you.

Contacting Development Management (Planning)

Email: lisa.evans@denbighshire.gov.uk

Telephone: 01824 706727

Post:

Lisa Evans
Support Team Manager
Development Management (Planning)
PO Box 62
Ruthin
LL15 9AZ

Alternatively, you can contact another member of staff in the Planning Section on 01824 706727 or by e-mailing planning@denbighshire.gov.uk.

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What if more than one person wants to speak?

If several people wish to speak in favour of an application, including the applicant, then only the applicant will be allowed to speak. However, if the applicant does not wish to speak, then a spokesperson should be chosen as described below.

If several people wish to speak for or against an application, they should decide in advance who will act as spokesperson and tell the Planning section who it will be. If you allow us to share your contact details with others (with the same view) that request to speak, it will help you to chose a single spokesperson. This could be a representative from a town or community council, who may be best able to share the views of those interested. If you cannot agree on a spokesperson, only the first person to notify the county council (as described above) will be allowed to speak.

Remember that some town and community councillors are also county councillors, and they already have the right to speak at Planning Committee in accordance with the Council’s Standing Orders.

We will contact those who request to speak to confirm that the application will be considered at the particular Committee. This will be by telephone, in writing or by e-mail before the meeting.

There are 25 seats available in the public gallery, including 3 for the press. Once these seats are taken, we cannot allow anyone to stand in the council chamber due to fire regulations. If a large turnout is expected at committee, we need as much notice as possible to arrange for overflow rooms to be made available.

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Sharing documents and correspondence

You are entitled to contact councillors in writing before the day of the meeting and it would be helpful if you send copies of any correspondence to Lisa Evans (see contact details above) at the same time. You are not able to hand out documents or correspondence at the meeting itself, as this is too late to be taken into account.

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What happens on the day?

All speakers must attend the Planning Committee meeting (normally held in the County Offices, Wynnstay Road, Ruthin) and introduce themselves to the officers at reception before 9:15am. The meetings start at 9:30am on Wednesdays every four weeks.

You can find the dates and locations on the Planning Committee meetings page or by contacting the Planning Office. The order of the published agenda will be changed to allow applications that include a public speaker to be considered at the start of the meeting.

Normally the person(s) speaking against the application will go first, and those in favour will go second. When invited by the Chair of the Committee, you may speak only once and for up to three minutes on the particular item of interest to you. The three-minute period will be strictly enforced.

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What should you talk about?

We advise you to focus on the key points of concern to you, as points raised in correspondence will already have been summarised in the committee report or late information sheets. You should concentrate on relevant planning issues, which may include:

• relevant national and local planning policies
• appearance and character of the development, layout and density
• traffic generation, highway safety and parking/servicing
• overshadowing, overlooking, noise disturbance, odours or other loss of amenity

Speakers should avoid referring to matters outside the remit of the Planning Committee, such as:

• boundary disputes, covenants and other property rights
• personal remarks, to include remarks about another person's motives, actions to date, family background, ethnicity and so on
• rights to views or devaluation of property

The Chair may intervene and ask you to stop speaking if you say anything that is or may be considered to be inappropriate, slanderous or in contravention of legislation on equalities.

Once you have spoken you will be asked to leave the seat designated for public speaking. You will not be asked any questions and you cannot address any to the committee or officers. You must then leave the matters to be debated by the Planning Committee and must not join in the debate.

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