Following their campaigning, Richmond United Group is delighted that from 6th August, for a trial period, the order of speakers for and against planning applications will alternate. Currently, all those against an application must speak first, followed by all those in favour, with no right to reply. This new system will enable speakers to challenge or correct inaccuracies - especially important in controversial planning applications where there is much opposition.

RUG is also campaigning for more comprehensive Minutes of Planning Meetings to be published, which could also contain the speeches of those both for and against applications. David Barnes, Head of Development and Enforcement at Richmond Council advised that currently it is considered “good practice”, as discussed in “Knowles on Local Authority meetings, a Manual of Law and Practice” to destroy clerk’s notes once the minutes have been confirmed.

Currently, officer notes taken during the meetings are destroyed soon after the Minutes are published. However, the Minutes are no where near comprehensive enough and a much more detailed record should be available for public scrutiny. This could prove vital in cases where planning decisions become issues for the Ombudsman or a Judicial Review.

Other Boroughs record many of their meetings and the public can view these via their websites, but Richmond upon Thames Council has always been reluctant to follow suit.

Do you think planning committee minutes should be more detailed and would you welcome the opportunity to watch what goes on at planning meetings via a live feed?

See the RUG website and Twickenham-Online for more information about this cross party group: www.richmondunitedgroup.com