Members of the public have the right to speak at meetings of the Planning and Environment Committee during the consideration of planning and licensing applications.
Speaking About Planning Applications
The purpose of the right to speak is to give members of the public the opportunity to make their views known directly to the Committee. They can still write to the Council if they prefer, or in addition to speaking. Those entitled to speak can be objectors, applicants, their agents and supporters.
Please remember that Ripley Parish Council is only a Consultee and you must ensure that you notify the Planning Authority (Guildford Borough Council) direct if you wish to object to planning applications. You should provide them in writing within the specified time period to:
Planning – Guildford Borough Council
Millmead House,
Millmead,
Guildford,
Surrey,
GU2 4BB
Planning applications can be viewed online on Guildford Borough Council’s Planning Portal.
If you wish to speak at a meeting of Ripley Parish Council’s Planning and Environment Committee you will need to contact the Clerk preferably in writing or email, although a telephone call will suffice, by no later than 12 noon on the day of the meeting. The Clerk will then make a list of those wishing to speak, in the order they contact the Council.
Email: clerk@ripleyparishcouncil.gov.uk
Telephone: 01483 224847
Address: Ripley Parish Council, Victory House, High Street, Ripley, Woking, Surrey, GU23 6AF
How to Find Out if your Planning Application is being Reviewed
Planning applications reported to the Committee will be included in the appendices of the agenda for the meeting. Planning and Environment Committee agendas are available to view at the Council Offices, online on our Agendas page, or on the public notice boards in Ripley.
Order of Speaking
The Officer attending or Chair will introduce the application, followed by other speakers in the following order:
- Applicant or agent
- Objectors
- Supporters
- Guildford Borough Councillors (not usually time constrained)
- Ripley Parish Councillors (not usually time constrained)
Members of the Committee may question each speaker to clarify points. There will then be a debate and the Council will formulate observations for submission to the Planning Authority.
Time limit – minor applications
There is a time limit of three minutes for each group of speakers. If there is more than one interested party wishing to speak, the Council will advise them that they should co-ordinate their presentation. If they are unable to do so, the first person registering will be allotted two minutes. At the Chair’s discretion the remaining time will be available to remaining speakers, if they are adding new points. It is the responsibility of speakers to co-ordinate presentations.
Time limit – major applications
The time limits are as above. However occasionally an applicant or agent for a major development may be invited to present his proposals to the Committee, and will be allowed a period of fifteen minutes with member questions thereafter.
Can Questions be Asked of Other Speakers?
You may include questions in the time allocated to you but the Committee has no powers to require other speakers to answer your questions, they may answer your questions if they choose in their allocated time but there will be no debate. Generally it is better if you seek to have questions answered outside the meeting and to state your interests/points on the basis of the information given to you.
You must not interrupt other speakers nor interrupt the Committee debate. All speakers must speak to the Chair, respect the Chair and respond to instructions accordingly.
The Chair will invite speakers to speak and they will stand to address the Committee (unless infirmity prevents them).
Relevant Issues
Relevant issues will vary with the nature of the proposal and the site are specified within the National Planning Policy Framework and may include:
- Relevant planning issues
- Highway safety, traffic generation and parking
- Noise, disturbance and other loss of amenities
- Appearance and character of development
- Layout and density of buildings
- Impact on any historic buildings, protected nature conservation sites or trees
- Overshadowing, overlooking and loss of privacy
Irrelevant Issues
Again these will vary from case to case but the following are usually irrelevant:
- Private property rights (e.g. boundary or access disputes)
- Personal remarks (e.g. the applicants motives)
- Possible future developments
- Effect on property value
Speaking about Licensing Applications
In addition to the participation of statutory organisations (such as the Police or Guildford Borough Council) licensing applicants and/or their agents will be invited to address the Planning and Environment Committee in regard to the application.
Objectors to a licence application will be permitted to address their objections to the Planning and Environment Committee when that application is being considered and at the discretion of the Chair.