Public Participation at Dartmoor National Park Authority Meetings and Development Control Committee Meetings
Meetings of the Authority
The main business of the National Park Authority is conducted at monthly Authority Meetings which are held at the Authority’s Headquarters at Parke, Bovey Tracey. The Authority meets normally on the first Friday of each month. Authority meetings commence at 12 noon or on the rising of the Development Control Committee whichever is the later. The Authority's Development Control Committee commences prior to Authority Meetings at 10am. This Committee considers planning applications and other development control matters, and its Meetings are also held at Parke. With the exception of very occasional confidential matters, all of the formal business of both the Authority and its Development Control Committee is conducted in public. The schedule of National Park Authority Meetings and Development Control Committee Meetings is available on request and can also be viewed on our web site. Agendas for the Authority and Development Control Committee Meetings are placed on the Authority’s web site 7 days in advance of the Meetings.
Public Participation at Authority Meetings
Members of the public have the opportunity to make representations at the Meetings of the National Park Authority. You are able to talk about the issues being discussed at a particular Meeting, making your points directly to Members. The aim is to open up the democratic process so that you can contribute more to decision making. Representation may be in the form of a question, a statement, or a petition which must be received at least two full working days before the Authority Meeting (i.e. by 10.00 a.m. on the Wednesday immediately preceding the Meeting).
The representation must relate to an item on the published Agenda and should be sent to the Chief Executive in writing. A daytime contact number must be given so that, if necessary, clarification may be sought regarding the representation prior to the Meeting.
All representations received will be dealt with at the appropriate part of the Meeting. You will be invited to read your statement or question, for which you will be allowed a maximum of three minutes. Please note: if you are not present at the Meeting, or someone on your behalf, your representation will not be dealt with.
Please send your written representation to:
Chief Executive (National Park Officer)
Dartmoor National Park Authority
Parke, Bovey Tracey
Newton Abbot, Devon TQ13 9JQ
tel: (01626) 832093
fax: (01626) 834684
e-mail: hq@dartmoor-npa.gov.uk
Public Speaking at Development Control Committee Meetings
The National Park Authority wants to ensure that everyone has a chance to make their views known before a decision is taken on planning applications and enforcement cases which are reported to its Development Control Committee. Everyone has the right to give their comments in writing, but if you have views about an item which is being determined by the Development Control Committee you or your representative are also able to give your views verbally at the Committee Meeting. It is important to stress that there will be no disadvantage to those who prefer not to, or who are unable to, present their views in person. All representations are accurately reported in Officers' reports to Members or the Committe is advised of any representations received after the report is written. These written representations are considered equally by Members when making a decision. The invitation to speak is in respect of any application or formal submission to the Authority under the terms of the Planning Acts and includes requests to approve minor amendments.
Procedure
To ensure that this opportunity is open and fair and to facilitate the smooth running of the Meeting, the following procedure should be respected:
1 The following members of the public have the opportunity to address the Committee:
(a) the applicant/person responsible for the development or his/her agent or a supporter (only one person is allowed to speak);
(b) an objector to the application/development (if there is more than one objector, then one person should be chosen as their spokesperson).
2 If you wish to make use of the procedure, please give notice of your intention to do so,in writing, at least 24 hours prior to the Meeting. Notice of an intention to speak should therefore be received before 10.00 a.m. on the Thursday preceding the Meeting and should be addressed to the Director of Planning and Sustainable Development, at the Authority’s headquarters.
3 If you have given notice of your intention to speak, in accordance with 2 above and after an initial presentation by the relevant officer, you will be invited by the Chairman to speak, in the following order:
(a) the applicant/ person responsible for the development or his/her agent or a supporter;
(b) an objector.
4 You may speak uninterrupted for a maximum of three minutes in respect of each proposal or unauthorised development regardless of the number of applications relating to the proposal, e.g. planning and listed building applications in respect of the same development will not double the speaking time.
5 Statements should be confined to matters which are material planning considerations (advice on this can be sought from a planning officer beforehand).
6 After the three minute presentation, the Committee Members may wish to ask the speaker questions to clarify any matters of particular concern.
7 After the public statements, and any questions, the Committee will debate the proposal in the normal way, with Officer advice, and make a decision.
