The following Notice of Motion has been proposed by Cllr J Toye, seconded by Cllr J Rest:

‘North Norfolk District Council believes that planning works best when developers and the local community work together to shape local areas and deliver necessary new homes; and therefore calls on our local MPs – Duncan Baker and Jerome Mayhew and the Government to protect the right of communities to object to individual planning applications.’

Cllr J Toye, Portfolio Holder for Planning, introduced this item. He explained that the new Planning Reforms Bill had started its journey with him within days of taking over the portfolio. He said that some of the concerns raised in response to the White Paper had been addresses – such as the number of minimum affordable homes to be built. He said the ability to consult at all stages was imperative. He went onto say that the weakening of residents rights to voice their views on planning applications was a serious concern. He said that the Council had a strong record of listening to residents’ views and that it was essential to maintain the right of local communities to have a voice on planning issues in their area.

Cllr J Rest, in seconding the motion, said that he received between 6 and 8 planning applications a month in his ward. He said that the Planning Bill would strip away the rights of local people to voice their views and concerns on planning matters in their community. He asked why the government did not feel that local views were not important.  If the Government wanted to build more homes now, then they should compel developers who already had full planning permission to get on with it.

The Chairman opened the debate.

Cllr P Grove-Jones spoke as Chairman of the Development Committee. She said that she supported the motion. The Committee provided an opportunity for local residents to express their views on planning applications and to facilitate a discussion on key issues. Planning applications and wider local development were of great importance to local communities and any attempt by the Government to impose development on an area would cause great unrest – not just in the District but across the country, leading ultimately to a loss of respect and trust in national and local government.

Cllr P Heinrich said that the proposals set out in the Planning Bill would be a disaster for North Norfolk and for his own ward of North Walsham West.

Cllr T FitzPatrick commented that in his view this was a virtue signalling motion. The only comment that was valid so far was to ensure that developers were forced to build sites with planning consent. The intent seemed to be to score points off the local MPs.

Cllr E Vardy said that he agreed with some sentiments of the motion. He added that he was grateful for Duncan Baker MP for his tireless efforts in creating changes to the consultation paper, which was now a draft paper up for further submission to local government. He agreed with the principle that planning should be plan-led and not developer-led.

Cllr N Dixon said that he thought the motion was premature. He did not believe that the local MPs would support proposals which would deny local communities the right to voice their views on individual planning applications. The Bill has yet to be published and the motion was therefore speculative. He added that he was surprised that the motion only mentioned new homes and not sustainable employment opportunities or infrastructure.

Cllr J Toye as the proposer of the motion said that it was important to make representations before the decision was made not when it was too late. He said that sustainable development and economic growth were separate issues.

It was proposed by Cllr J Toye, seconded by Cllr J Rest and

RESOLVED to support the following motion:

North Norfolk District Council believes that planning works best when developers and the local community work together to shape local areas and deliver necessary new homes; and therefore calls on our local MPs – Duncan Baker and Jerome Mayhew and the Government to protect the right of communities to object to individual planning applications.

One member voted against, 7 members abstained.